UA to continue racial discrimination in programs no one knows about

This writeup on last year's Multicultural Journalism Workshop at UA says: "While the focus is on attracting minorities because of their low representation in the media, students who are not a member of a minority group are also eligible to attend."

The Business Plan Competition for African-American Students that I mentioned last Friday isn't nearly so inclusive. Its eligibility requirements state that "the competition is open to all African-American UA students in good standing enrolled full time during the Fall 2006 and Spring 2007 semesters."

That's pretty transparent: race is the sole criterion by which full-time students in good standing can be disqualified from competing. They can follow the procedures and guidelines in every other way, but if they can't attest to their race based on the one-drop rule or its modern, politically-correct offspring, they need not apply.

If you find this University-endorsed policy to be as discouraging as I do, please direct your inquiries and concerns to:

Ms. Gwendolyn Hood
University Compliance Officer
171 Rose Administration Building
Box 870300
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0300
(205) 348-5855