Affirmative action protest draws more from other side

A small demonstration against affirmative action Thursday brought out a larger counterprotest in front of the student union building at Eastern Washington University in Cheney.

Students making their way to the Pence Union Building found themselves confronted with 50 to 70 people with signs that mostly supported affirmative action.

Some students stopped after seeing “The KKK is against affirmative action too” on a couple of signs.

While the signs were provocative, the protest was mostly silent with little interaction between camps set up 20 feet apart.

The EWU College Republicans used an anti-affirmative action bake sale, which advertised higher prices for white men, in an attempt to illustrate what they consider unfair advantages offered to women and minorities.

“The bake sale has different prices to represent how affirmative action works,” said a flier from the EWU College Republicans. “Minorities are given preference.”

The campus Democrats gave away free food and their own fliers that pointed out what they called myths of affirmative action, such as the belief the program lets unqualified people get ahead.

“Affirmative action only opens doors, women and people of color have to walk through those doors by themselves,” according to the flier.

Dozens of students from campus minority groups stood by the Democrat table with signs. By noon, most of the group had moved to the center of campus where students and professors rallied in support of affirmative action.

College Republican president Josh Fahrnkopf said he felt affirmative action admissions programs undermine all potential recipients because some may believe they are there only due to their race or gender.

“It shouldn’t even be a question if they are qualified to be here,” Farhnkopf said.

Nicole Snyder, secretary and treasurer of the EWU College Republicans, was at the table with two others at 8 a.m. as the first students made their way through campus. At first, it was the three of them and no other students.

A friend walked by in mock outrage, “I can’t believe you people. You damn Republicans!”

Snyder told him, “Are you white? If you have anything else in you, then (the price) jumps down.”

By 11 a.m., the campus Democrats had set up a table and given away $100 worth of food. Two campus security officers walked around. Several EWU administrators mingled with students and watched.

“I just want to inform people of the facts,” Snyder said.

When asked what she thought of other groups’ claims that the college Republicans are the ones misleading people, she paused.

“I would just say everyone needs to research what affirmative action is and get your facts straight,” she said.

Mark Harrington, a freshman, said he wanted to see firsthand how the event would turn out. He supports the Republicans.

“I’m not racist or anything like that, but I do believe there is a certain time for everything,” Harrington said.

“Reparations have been made, not to everybody’s satisfaction, but no matter what you do, you won’t satisfy everybody.”

He said he was glad that people had an opportunity to see the signs, even those with an opposing view.

“The general public doesn’t attend panels,” Harrington said.

“The general public is walking here in front of the PUB, the general public is seeing everybody’s sign and has to walk through it and face it.”