Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 3 January 2003 — Page 4

PAGE A4

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2003

COMMENTARY Sounding an alarm [or African-Americans who want to attend college

“Most observers of the court, including me, feel that it is highly probable that the court will vote to strike down affirmative action nationwide by a vote of 5-4. “ -Kevin Brown

By KEVIN BROWN Kevin Brown is an AfricanAmerican professor who has been on the faculty at the Law School in Bloomington since 1987- His research specializes on the intersection of race, law and education. He sent the following e-mail to inform African-American students at Indiana University of recent developments that could dramatically effect their educational opportunities. The United States Supreme Court this term has agreed to hear two affirmative action cases from the University of Michigan. Acceptance of these eases means that the Supreme Court will address the issue of affirmative action in college and university admissions for the first time since its 1978 decision in Regents of the University of California vs. Bakke. Barring some unusual

development, the court’s decision can be expected by the time it ends its current term which should be in either May or June 2003. There arc nine justices on the Supreme Court. Decisions are made by a majority of the court. Almost all of the Supreme Court s significant cases addressing the major issues of race discrimination over the past 15 years have been decided by a vote of 5-4. These cases include decisions to make affirmative action in government contracting by state and federal governments extremely difficult to implement, striking down the creation of majority-minority congressional legislative districts, making it easier to terminate school desegregation decrees and upholding the administration of capital punishment despite the

University of California vs. Bakke.

acknowledged recognition that race discrimination means, Black killers and killers of whites are more likely to receive a death sentence. Most observers of the court, including me, feel that it is highly probable that the court will vote to strike down affirmative action nationwide by a vote of 5-4. The effect of the termination of affirmative action will have a dramatic impact on the number of Blacks who attend public colleges, universities and graduate programs. According to the National Report by The College Board the average SAT score for African-American takers in the Class of 2001 was 433 verbal, 426 math or 859. In contrast the average SAT score for white non-Hispanic is 529 verbal and 531 math or a combined 1060. As a law professor, I know that the disparities for those who take

the LSAT are equally as stark. The same can also be said for MCAT, GMAT, GRE and other standardized tests. My purpose here is not to address the causes of the differences, but the implications in light of the probability that as of May or June of 2003 public colleges, universities and graduate programs may be constitutionally prohibited from taking account of race in their admissions decisions. Seeing into the future is like seeing around a corner. There are always so many variables that are hidden from view and therefore cannot accurately be taken into account that might make a prediction which seemed wise at the time appear foolish in retrospect. Nevertheless, I feel that it is my duty as an African-Ameri-can law professor to say in as clear terms as possible that this upcoming admission year is quite likely to afford African Americans their best hope'for a college, university or graduate degree in what may ultimately turn out to be their entire life time. With the seriousness of a drowning man who is desperately groping to grab onto a life preserver, I want to advise as many African Americans as possible that if you have any plans of attending college or university or a graduate program you must apply this spring. If you wait until next year, the situation is likely to be dramatically different.

VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA PUBLIC AUTO AUCTION CUSTOMER APPRECIATION SALE Saturday, January 4™ 9 AM GATES OPEN at 8 AM OVER 60 ITEMS Door Prizes aik! Refreshments Call 780-2277 For Directions and More Information

• ( > iln<‘ks ifivtof kurtlf)

Indpls., IN 46201 *317/822-4229

Mon. - Thurs. 1 lam - 11pm Fri. & Sat. 1 lam - 1am

Itiwil < ttroor l^luraiioii

Real Estate Certification Program Courses offered in September 2002 Two & FoUr Week Accelerated Sales Courses Two Week Accelerated Brokers Course fV>; . • .. t D.r F'.' i: Four Week Accelerated Brokers; C ourse F- •• ••• l ;• Thr /V />.*..'•£• Nine Week FA ening Sales ('ourses • F- ■ ■ . in v Nine Week FAening Brokers Course it ' itji .\y 77i< F'\"L' Appraisal (’ourse Propert) Inspection Course 1-800-742-4067 wuw. recp.orK

preparing a conscious community today & beyond I- »-"Viflf'Mji i . , i1

www.indianapolisrecorder.com

Gregory M. French M.D. Internal Medicine SfK’C idllziH^ Hypertension cnj I ligh Cholesterol y Diabetes Preventive Medicine 3737 N. Meridian St., Suite 410 • ( 317) 925-8283

Could You Be At Risk For Diabetic Eye Disease? • * 1 • Diabetic eye disease is a group ol dye problems that people with diabetes may lace as a complication ol ibis disease including diabetic retinopathy, cataracts and glaucoma

• Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause ol blindness in American adults • li you have diabetes you should have a dilated eye examination at least once a year to detect these problems and avoid losing your vision Diabetic h)e( are l.asei Vision Correction (ilaueolna Management I .)e l.xams tor All Ages ( atarael Surgei> l aslnon l iames Contact Lenses I uo ( oineiiient I.oealions • AVu I'tilicnl'i Writ mm' Most lllUlKIIII /\l I ('/itl'll IH()I \ Senate 926 6699 (Midlown) 6929 l'ai,kdale Place 293-1420 (Wcslside)

BETTYE J0 RAWLS LLOYD, M.D.

INTERNATIONAL

President Joseph Kabila Congo Presidenl Kabila to keep job

PRETORIA (GIN) - Rebels and the Democratic Republic of Congo have agreed to keep President Joseph Kabila in his post as part of a power-sharing agreement that ends Africa's biggest war. The four-year-old conflict, which drew in armies from as far away as Zimbabwe and Uganda, caused the loss of up to 2 million lives from hunger and disease. South African negotiator Sisa Ngombane hailed the deal as a “major breakthrough;” “It is the most broadbased government that the Congolese can hope for,” he said, after the deal was signed in the South African city of Pretoria. Chief negotiator for the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC) Olivier Kamitatu said that participants in the war, for the rest of their lives, would carry the stigma and responsibility with them. “To all the innocent victims, we ask forgiveness,” Kamitatu said. Azarias Ruberwa, the

delegation head for the other main rebel group, the Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD), said they had made concessions to sign the deal and one of them was to stop fighting. “Now' nobody can go back to war. Ever.” Under a complex deal, President Kabila will stay in his post until general elections are held in two years, but rebel forces will be given government posts. The Congo war started in 1998 with an uprising in the east of Africa’s third biggest country. At the height of the civil war, there were well over 50,000 troops from seven different African states fighting along with the Congolese army and numerous rebel factions and tribal militias. Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda all said they were supporting the rebels because the Congolese government was backing insurgents attacking their own countries. Zimbabwe, Namibia and Angola, w'ho backed the government, gained valuable mineral concessions in return for their support.

Power changes in Kenya

Mwal Klbaki has his eyes on the main prize

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Tens of thousands of Kenyans roared -their approval as Mwai Kibaki was sworn in as their president Monday, exulting in his historic victory o\er the party that ruled the country for nearly four decades. Many people climbed trees and lampposts to witness the inauguration of the man they are counting on to rebuild this once prosperous East African nation. Kibaki, 7L a former vice president and finance minister, promised not to disappoint them. The crowd jeered and heekled departing President Daniel arap Moi - who ruled the country for 24 years with an autoeratie hold on power - as he arrived at Nairobi’s downtown Uhuru Park for the inauguration and sat next to his successor;

Moi, 78, listened stone-faced as Kibaki highlighted the failings of his government. "I am inheriting a country’ which has been badly ravaged by years of misrule and ineptitude," Kibaki told the huge crowd. “You have asked me to lead this nation out of the present wilderness and malaise on to the promised land, and I ^shall do so.” When Kibaki told the crowd that government should not be a burden on the people, one man shouted, “Tell him!” and pointed at Moi. Kibaki pledged to create jobs for millions of unemployed, provide free primary education and lead a government that won’t be run on the “whims of individuals.” Kibaki’s National Rainbow Coalition won a landslide victory in elections last Friday, ending 39 years of rule by the Kenya Africa National Union.