A state Senate hearing on the University of California’s power structure was temporarily sidetracked yesterday by a racially charged shouting match between a senator and the UC regent who led the campaign to ban affirmative action at the university. Senator Diane Watson, D-Los Angeles, suggested that Ward Connerly, one of two black regents, was a puppet appointed by Governor Wilson because of his race. Watson, also an African American, said Connerly was confirmed by the Senate after she urged her colleagues to support him for the sake of diversity. Connerly retorted by calling Watson a "lightweight" who had no influence over his selection to the board — and a "bigot." After the meeting, he said Watson once told a reporter that Connerly wants to be white, noting that his wife is white.

Read full article [here].
by Pamela Burdman, The San Francisco Chronicle.

Posted: February 21st, 1996, by: admin. Categories: . Awaiting Comments.