You decide
Tuesday; a rally outside the Bovee University Center worked to encourage students to vote no on Proposal 2 on Nov. 7.
Tonight, a rally in favor of the proposal will be followed by a debate over the issue in Warriner Hall’s Plachta Auditorium.
But a recent random survey conducted by Central Michigan Life found that about 56 percent of 416 participants responded with “Don’t know” when asked what was their stance on the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative.
The MCRI, also known as Proposal 2 on the Nov. 7 ballot, is an initiative that seeks to amend the Michigan constitution to outlaw race and gender-based affirmative action programs in public institutions, like university admissions policies.
If a majority of voters elect to pass Proposal 2, affirmative action in Michigan will be banned. If the proposal fails, affirmative action in Michigan will remain unchanged.
Regardless of what stance students take on the MCRI, the issue is one of the largest to face Michigan in recent memory — the outcome of the election will profoundly affect the lives of everyone in this state.
Affirmative action programs — or their absence — will factor into future students’ admissions to CMU and other universities across the state.
And that’s just for starters.
But there’s still time for students to become educated on the ins and outs of the MCRI and affirmative action.
The “You Decide Speaker Series” debate is a great place to start.
Why it matters
- Voters should inform themselves by attending tonight’s You Decide forum on Proposal 2
Taking place at 7 p.m. tonight in Plachta Auditorium, the debate will feature two panelists from each side of the issue. It’ll provide a balance of both views of the MCRI and provide students with a snapshot of what this issue is all about.
More information from each side of the debate is available online.
Information from groups favoring the MCRI is available at michigancivilrights.org.
Information on the proposal from groups opposing it is available at oneunitedmichigan.org.
Students should make a point of getting informed for the election.
Few other votes will have as much affect on students’ futures as this one.
