Connerly leaves a lasting legacy

For the regents of the University of California and for all UC
students, the last 12 years have been marked by forceful rhetoric
and substantive change. In that time, the Board of Regents has
wrestled with historic predicaments in student fees, race-based
preferences and academic freedom.

But these discussions and the changes they effected were not
inevitable ““ the status quo of a race-obsessed admissions
process and reliably rising tuition did not have to be challenged.
They were secure and settled practices of the University of
California.

But Regent Ward Connerly made the challenge. He started it all,
with no coattail or crutch in his support. He began from scratch,
and when he leaves his final regents meeting tomorrow, he will
finish with an impressive legacy.

It is a legacy as much about the changes he made as it about his
character. And it is as much about his character as it is about the
unique role he played on the board.

But as it pertains to these changes, the assessment cannot be
warm to everyone. For Connerly has made his most famous difference
in leading the regents, and later California citizens, in derailing
affirmative action in California. His successes have given both
majorities and minorities the equal chance to attend institutions
of higher learning ““ based on their own merit.

His battle against the race orthodoxy will probably earn
Connerly his only ticket to our generation’s collective
memory. But this is unfortunate, because from the beginning
Connerly has also been a champion of students’ rights and
perhaps the most vocal opponent of increased student fees. The
general welfare of UC students has been the obvious motive behind
Connerly’s every move.

These changes in tradition were not easy to realize, and it is
to Connerly’s character that we must turn to discover just
how he did it.

The first time I saw Ward Connerly was on Nov. 19, 2003 at Covel
Commons, where a regents meeting was taking place. The staircase
leading up to the third floor was filled with hundreds of angry
activists who were calling for Connerly’s resignation. One
student who held the sign “Connerly must go!” told me
that the regent was a “race traitor” and
“bigot,” trying to undo Dr. King’s eminent
dream.

I spotted Ward Connerly as he was being harangued by a fuming
student. Connerly patiently waited until the student had finished.
And then he said, in paraphrase, I want to talk to you about this.
I want you to bring three representatives of your group and I will
bring three fellow regents, and we’ll meet privately and
discuss these issues in a civil manner.

Connerly’s character is perhaps more credibly rendered by
the descriptions of those who know him and disagree with him. Like
outgoing Student Regent Jodi Anderson, who views the “loss of
affirmative action (as) a terrible blow to the UC.
Period.”

Despite her beliefs, she told me, “As a person and a
regent I have a great deal of respect for Ward (Connerly). … Over
his 12-year term he has been a good colleague to a number of
student regents. … He has treated me with great respect and as a
valued colleague ““ and for this I am most
appreciative.”

Connerly’s ability and will to command the respect of his
staunchest political adversaries is a big part of his legacy.

With his political influences and strong, respectable character,
Connerly is an example for us all. But the thought that he will no
longer be at regents meetings puts into focus the true nature and
degree of his importance.

During his 12 years, Connerly filled the void between thousands
of students and the UC administration. In the political monolith
that is the UC Regents, while standing up unapologetically for what
he believed, he stood up also for what thousands of us believe.

In him, the campus political minority found its ambassador to
the UC administration ““ a voice finally for them.

And Connerly’s voice was heard, one way or another.

When his voice was lonely, it was that much more passionate.
When it supported a majority view, the voice was humble and
obliging. But it was heard. And so we felt that we were too.

In an interview, I asked Ward Connerly what he hopes his term as
a regent has accomplished. He responded, “I hope that I have
influenced our nation to understand the importance of obeying the
1964 Civil Rights Act and treating all Americans equally. Also,
that we can debate issues such as race in a civil and respectful
manner.”

Connerly has certainly achieved that ““ he has changed the
system and raised controversial issues while respecting and
listening to other opinions. In every way, he remains a standard
for the new student activist.

Hovannisian is a second-year history and philosophy student.
E-mail him at [email protected]. Send general comments to
[email protected].