edy these situations.Opponents of affirmative action won a landmark victory, in 1998, with the passage of Californias Proposition 209. This proposition abolished all public-sector affirmative action programs in the state in employment, education and contracting. Clause(C) of Prop. 209 permits gender discrimination that is "reasonably necessary" to the "normal operation" of public education, employment and contracting. In 1998, The ban on use of affirmative action in admissions at the University of California went into effect. UC Berkeley had a 61% drop in admissions, and UCLA had a 36% decline. This decline strengthens the position of the Pro side of affirmative action.However, a contingency plan has been established. According to a source (who asked to remain nameless), UC Berkeley has a program to actively recruit more minority students that falls out of the guidelines established by prop. 209. These types of "loop holes" can ultimately hurt the various studies on the effectiveness of anti-affirmative action laws.LOOPHOLES"Loop holes" are exceptions to the rules or standards. Its a way around the system. Opponents for affirmative action might feel that the Washington State government utilized such a "loop hole" in 1997. Under an affirmative action program criticized as the ultimate example of preferential treatment by supporters against affirmative action, the Washington State government hired more white men than African Americans did or any other minority group. In fact, white men fell second to white women being hired (Brune).The program in question is Washington States "plus three" program, according to Tom Brune of the Seattle Times, "allows the state to hire people who qualify for affirmative action over finalists with higher job-test scores. White men qualify because the states affirmative action policy cover not only people of color and women, but also Vietnam-era veterans, disabled veterans and people with disabil...
