From The Wisconsin State Journal, April 2, 2003.

Reprinted with Permission.

Wisconsinites rally at U.S. Supreme Court

By David Enrich, States News Service

WASHINGTON -- As the Supreme Court mulled the fate of race-conscious university admissions, activists from Wisconsin and across the country rallied outside the court on Tuesday to show their support for affirmative action.

"I think it's important to build public awareness for the level of support for affirmative action and its importance in higher education," said Tonya Brito, a UW Law School professor.

The court is hearing two cases that challenge the constitutionality of the University of Michigan's affirmative action policies.

If the court strikes them down, "it could impact our nation in a huge way that most people don't understand," said Beth Heuer, director of affirmative action at UW-Oshkosh.

Tom Garrison, who graduated in 1984 from the UW Law School and now lives in Baltimore, was one of about 10 law-school alumni at the rally.

"I think it's important to keep doing something to address past discrimination and ongoing discrimination. I don't think it's gone away. It's not as overt, but it's still there," Garrison said.

Authorities estimated up to 7,000 demonstrators showed up; organizers pegged the crowd at more than 10,000.

U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, a 1989 UW Law School graduate, was one of several lawmakers to show up at the rally, a block away from the Capitol.

"I was pleased to go not with the member of Congress hat on but as the graduate of another Big Ten law school at a time when one of our Big Ten colleagues is being challenged in court," she said. "For most purposes [Michigan is] a competitor law school, but for this purpose we'll consider them a sister."

The demonstrators weren't the only ones defending race-conscious admissions policies. Nearly 100 major companies -- including Alliant Energy Corp. of Madison -- filed briefs with the court, arguing that affirmative action in higher-education is key to maintaining workplace diversity.

Frank Lukacs, a 53-year-old Virginian, was one of the few foes of affirmative action sprinkled in the crowd.

"It is really affirmative discrimination," he said. "I wish the Supreme Court would have the guts to say it's illegal and unconstitutional."

Jeffrey Vail, a 1991 UW Law School graduate who now is a Washington-based attorney for the U.S. Forest Service, conceded that the rally was unlikely to sway members of the famously insular Supreme Court.

"It's symbolic," Vail said. "It won't change anybody's views" on the court, but it "sends a message that people care about this."

Submitted by on April 2, 2003

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