Asian involvement in AAC applaudable

Battles is chairperson of the African Student Union.

By Robert E. Battles II

Speaking as a “fascinated” and
“dangerous” proponent of affirmative action, I would
like to commend Viewpoint columnist Andrew Jones on his blatant
display of extreme confusion in last week’s column,
“Position of APC contains contradictions” (Daily Bruin,
Nov. 14).

Jones’ criticism of the Asian Pacific Coalition and the
Affirmative Action Coalition stated the APC is misguided in
practicing what a community of diversity is all about. But I
challenge people to support the leaders of the Asian community for
having the foresight to know the loss of affirmative action affects
every student at this campus ““ whether they feel they benefit
from it or not.

Jones’ criticism of the APC and their participation in the
AAC is a thinly veiled attempt to divide and conquer the successful
campaigns of underrepresented student groups at UCLA. These groups
Jones criticizes have made every effort to restore some sort of
legitimacy to an institution that has based its reputation on its
commitment to diversity. Though Jones’ words seek to attack
the APC and the AAC, it is obvious that his lack of understanding
for what true diversity is minimizes his argument and exposes his
ignorance.

The AAC is an amazing example of a community of diversity on the
UCLA campus. I applaud the APC and its affiliated organizations for
their ability to see that organizing around issues of affirmative
action is not merely about population. It is about bridging the
gaps that exist among under and overrepresented communities at
institutions of higher education in order to enhance our collective
experience ““ instead of denying education, as affirmative
action opponents believe.

Jones points out that Asian students would be harmed by a
possible reinstatement of affirmative action policies. His point is
worth examining.

Affirmative action was the government’s acknowledgement of
centuries of disenfranchisement and racism. Through the institution
of affirmative action, people of color were able to rely on their
resiliency. They produced communities of students who now address
the social ills of our country. How does unifying a collective
voice to lash back at the atrocities they have experienced in
America harm the Asian community?

I would not give Jones too much credit as a critic, but it must
not be overlooked that the effect of his article can have a
damaging affect on the APC community if they allow it.

Asian Americans and Asian immigrants should be given credit for
their success in gaining access to systems of higher education, but
that does not mean they have been exempt from the struggle to gain
an identity in America. Their participation in a progressive
coalition like the AAC is evidence of that.

As Jones indirectly attacks the APC, I feel he opens himself up
for criticism of his misconstrued notions of what Asian people want
and need. Why is it that the dominant establishment seems to know
what is best for everyone but themselves? I feel that this is
rooted in their inherent denial of racial responsibility, which
allow terms like “color-blind society” to become the
vogue.

Jones’ acknowledgment of “Asian” as being an
“overly broad classification encompassing a wide variety of
nationalities and ethnicities” is by no means any measure of
his level of consciousness, as he would hope. Rather he has used
rhetoric to hide ““ and it has exposed his ignorance.

I implore the APC community to continue the hard work they have
initiated on issues of affirmative action, and to dismiss the
criticisms of the needs of their community.