Conference: In Affirmative Action’s Defense, Supporters Urged To Focus on Economic Benefits

Conference: In Affirmative Action’s Defense, Supporters Urged To Focus on Economic Benefits: When making the case for affirmative action, particularly in a potentially adversarial environment, emphasize the economic imperatives instead of just the social justice aspects of diversity and inclusion.

That’s one of the key points that Charles Batey, associate director for the Equal Opportunity Office at Metropolitan State College of Denver, says he got from the 38th National Conference and Annual Meeting of the American Association for Affirmative Action, or AAAA.

“Those of us that have been in this business for years have emphasized social justice,” said Batey, who also serves as a board member at AAAA, in an interview at the conclusion of the three-day conference, which drew some 160 individuals—mostly from higher education but also the private sector and government.