Student not allowed conference
White teen not permitted at minority event
By Ben Baynton, contributing writer
Posted on October 2, 2006

Emily Smith, a 15-year-old high school student, applied for a summer minority journalism program at Virginia Commonwealth University last April and was promptly accepted into the program.

The Urban Journalism Workshop is an intensive two-week program for high school students interested in journalism. 

One week after Emily’s acceptance, a professor from VCU called Smith and inquired about her race. Smith said she was white. Smith was told that she was ineligible for the program, due to her race.

Smith’s parents promptly met with lawyers, from the Center for Individuals Rights, a nonprofit organization of lawyers who are strong opponents of affirmative action.
The program is sponsored by VCU, the Dow Jones Newspaper Fund and Media General Inc. — all have been named in the lawsuit.

Smith applied to the program because she believed her muscular dystrophy would qualify her as a minority.

This case could become a major battleground in the continuing affirmative action debate, especially since VCU receives federal funding and could determine whether or not the federal government is allowed to fund initiatives to solely aid minority groups.

With private institutions being named in the lawsuit, this case may cause the private sector to be unwilling or hesitant to fund scholarships for minorities and other forms of aid.

However, not all believe eliminating the current form of affirmative action is a bad thing. Some believe ending affirmative action could actually support the goal of equality.

“If we’re trying to eliminate discrimination, we have to eliminate the processes of discrimination,” senior Steven Keefe said.

Some students feel the playing fields are not equal for all students.

“I think the standards are not the same for the majority versus the minority,” sophomore Aaron Eggman said. 

Many students agreed that Smith’s muscular dystrophy put her in a minority group. “People in wheelchairs are considered a minority, so why doesn’t Emily count?” freshman Jessica Snyder said.
It does not appear Smith’s condition will be a major part of the case, though. Her lawyers have so far been focused on the racial aspects of the case, and how it plays into affirmative action.

The case has also prompted discussion as to whether or not a federally funded institution can financially support organizations or scholarships that apply only to minorities.