The University of Wisconsin has a long history with offering an equal opportunity to students in its admissions process, in order to offer a more diverse learning environment. However, a lawsuit filed by a conservative Virginia-based organization called The Center for Equal Opportunity claims that the University of Wisconsin at Madison has crossed the line into reverse discrimination.

   Reverse discrimination is the hotly-debated concept that some programs designed to remedy social inequality actually discriminate against groups that were already well-established majorities in public institutions— namely Caucasians, but specifically affluent, protestant, and straight white men.

   While the Center for Equal Opportunity’s case against UW-Madison has yet to be decided, the issues of affirmative action and reverse discrimination have been intensely debated in this country for quite some time. Bob Hinck, a guidance counselor from D.C. Everest senior high school, believes this is an important issue.

   “This is a very political debate,” said Hinck, “I think the issue comes when it turns from soft affirmative action, where they are just leveling the playing field for everyone, to hard affirmative action, where you have quotas and possibly reverse discrimination.”

   Quotas were programs popular in colleges in the 70s that said that a school must have certain percentages of each social group. It was ultimately ruled illegal by the Supreme Court because it forced schools to accept minority students over majority students, even when the majority student had better grades and class ranking.

   Even though it is possible for the programs to go to far, Mr. Hinck believes they are important and were designed to make the system more fair.

   “What these programs do is they right past wrongs toward different groups,” said Mr. Hinck, “in the 60s John F. Kennedy signed these programs into law because some groups were not given equal opportunity.”

   The issue with UW-Madison is that the Center for Equal Opportunity claims it may be creating unequal opportunity by unofficial quotas, but the university denies that claim.

   According to WSAW, “Madison admissions director Adele Brumfield says her school considers student interests, urban-and-rural backgrounds, and more in deciding admissions. U-W officials say academic achievement should not be the only factor. They say it’s more important to have students from a variety of backgrounds – and diversity adds value to everyone’s experience.”

   “I think that’s important,” said Mr. Hinck. “That’s what this country is all about— equal opportunity for all. For all. Usually I don’t let my political views get published, but this is an issue I feel very strongly about.”

   He points to a sign in his room that has the word “Opportunity” across the bottom.

   “Equal opportunity for all,” he repeated.