Group marches to support affirmative action

Close to 50 students from the Coalition of Black Student Organizations and Programs took to the streets of Bloomington on Tuesday afternoon to show their support for affirmative action at IU. The march, which began at the Sample Gates, lasted close to an hour before ending at Showalter Fountain. The Coalition was recently formed to unite student leaders and concerned individuals at IU to represent the variety of black student groups on campus that work to create a more diverse environment. \nStudents marching through campus carried signs that read, "Fight racism and sexism" and "We won't tolerate the back of the bus." As students marched down Third Street they encouraged people to fight for equality, chanting "separate but equal is a lie, affirmative action must not die" and other sayings urging students to be a pro-active force against acts of discrimination and racism. The group met little protest during its march and recruited some students to join the cause. \nVice President for Student Development and Diversity Charlie Nelms joined the group when it arrived at Showalter Fountain. Nelms said he believes the march was keeping the issue of affirmative action at the forefront and on the public agenda.\n"It's an opportunity for people to affirm their commitments towards affirmative action and an opportunity for people of goodwill to interact with people who think and advocate in ways compatible to their own," Nelms said. Nelms also said he wished there would have been a more diverse crowd.\nAs he addressed the crowd, Nelms encouraged students to not only use their education, but also the opportunities that higher education presents to their advantage. \n"Don't confuse coursework with being educated. Get out of your comfort zone," Nelms said. "Make sure you are always true to yourself as a person. You are more than your major."\nJunior Carolyn Randolph, an active member in several black student groups on campus, was present to show her support for the cause. Randolph said the rally was to explain affirmative action, discuss the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court case involving the University of Michigan and to show what IU is currently doing to promote diversity on campus. Randolph said she believes affirmative action is paying attention to the fact that there are divisions between people in this world, but it is not trying to create greater separations.\n"How can you promote divisions when the divisions already exist?" Randolph said. \nRandolph called on participants to be persistent and to use their degrees to "go back and help your brothers and sisters to have the same rights."\nGerald Mitchell, president of the Black Student Union, said he supported the march wholeheartedly. Mitchell also said he was pleased with a campus-wide e-mail sent from Interim President Gerald Bepko. The e-mail, which was sent in late February, stated that the board of trustees reaffirmed their commitment to the beliefs and principles outlined in the University handbook. Bepko discussed the implications of an impending Supreme Court decision involving the University of Michigan's law school. Mitchell said the black community has discussed the e-mail and future plans of action.\nSophomore Alexis Hunt also attended the march and said she wanted her voice to be heard on campus. \n"Affirmative action is going to help many people -- not just blacks," she said. "I don't think it creates divisions between people."\nHunt said she believes there are a lot of minorities that have been negatively affected because they come from poor families and areas. Hunt said even though students may have good grades, they are overlooked because of where they come from.