At the first Brown Bag meeting of the year, faculty and students discussed affirmative action, the Supreme Court and Rush Limbaugh.
And this is only the beginning.
More Brown Bag discussions will occur each month.
This month's discussion focused on this summer's Supreme Court decision that repealed the University of Michigan's undergraduate point system but maintained that race can be still be used as a factor in admissions.
Douglas McConkey, vice president of student affairs and enrollment management, said the more affect affirmative action has on schools, the more selective the institutions become.
As a result, private schools and Ivy League institutions would have a more diverse class than Ball State, according to Cathy Bickel, associate director of Housing and Residence Life and facilitator of the Brown Bag discussions.
"We're (Ball State) dealing with a lot of applicants at one time, and we can't control who applies," Bickel said. "If you meet our criteria, we're probably going to admit you."
McConkey said Ball State considers race when recruiting students.
"You can engage in those activities to create a large and diverse class," he said.
At the discussion, Ball State students said people are concerned or skeptical about affirmative action because they don't know what it means.
"A lot of people think that affirmative action equals people who are less skilled because of race," senior Nataki Sanders said. "I think people were afraid that it was going to take us three steps back. I don't know if the majority of the country is ready to accept people at face value."
Students also discussed Rush Limbaugh, former ESPN sports analyst, and his remark about Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. Limbaugh said McNabb was overrated because the media wanted to report on the success of a black quarterback.
Student Organizations and Activities Director Lynda Malugen said the Limbaugh remark supported the misconception that minorities are given opportunities only to fill a quota.
"We should not undermine the talent and potential that is already there," she said. "(Affirmative action) is not (to give) people who already have the talent a bigger advantage."
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