I find it interesting that it wasn't until the issue of race was introduced in the admission process that [preferences] became ax issue. It's not until you talk about race that we're seeing these kinds of legal challenges."

Washington -- Affirmative action, racial preferences, and reverse discrimination seem to be fighting words these days. And while no blows were struck, panel members duked it out over the impact these catch phrases will have on students of color at Black Issues in Higher Education's video-conference, "Recruitment and Admissions Dilemmas in Higher Education."

Moderated by Court TV anchor Carol Randolph, the six-member panel considered what's next for students of color in light of court and voter decisions which have banned the use of racial preferences at colleges and universities in both California and Texas. The recent drop in numbers of minority students at campuses in these two states has those who support diversity concerned about the fate of minority students across the country.

"The task before colleges and admissions officers has always been how to balance desires for equity and excellence and how to advance them both simultaneously," said Bob Schaeffer, public education director at the National Center for Fair and Open Testing.

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Provost Dr. Nancy Cantor countered that diversity and excellence are not necessarily two different things. At Michigan, as diversity has gone up, so has excellence, she said.

"Our students of color bring exceptional qualities to our campuses," Cantor said.

Cantor knows all too well about America's controversy concerning racial preferences. Her university is currently the target of anti-affirmative action activists for its admissions policies. Nevertheless, she was unyielding in her defense of the need for diversity on college campuses.

"Our country entrusts our institutions of higher education to stretch and challenge the minds of undergrads, not to present mirror images of ourselves," she said.

According to Cantor, providing diversity on a college campus is, in fact, as necessary as providing classrooms.

"That's our job. That's what we are supposed to be doing," she said. "We are supposed to be creating the best educational environment possible for all our students. We contend that diversity is a key factor in making the most lively and best educational environment."

Joyce Smith, executive director of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, said that many admissions considerations such as alumni connections, student athletics, and musical accomplishments are rarely questioned.

"I find it interesting that it wasn't until the issue of race was introduced in the admissions process that [preferences) became an issue," said Smith. "It's not until you talk about race that we're seeing these kinds of legal challenges."

Representing the anti-affirmative action side was Bradford Wilson, executive director of the National Association of Scholars. He said that he supports diversity on college campuses, but doesn't think that admissions officers should be able to give a person extra consideration solely because of his or her race.

"A good number of folks don't like the idea that because somebody is Black or Brown he gets plus points in the admissions process. Whereas if somebody's skin is Yellow or White, they don't get those plus points," he explained, contending that most individuals who oppose affirmative action do not have racist motives.

But how then, the question was raised, do African Americans level out the playing field after centuries of discrimination that has left them behind?

"One of the things that is going on is that there is a bias in the American mind, not just in the people who oppose affirmative action," responded/Anthony Carnevale, vice president of Educational Testing Service. Americans believe "that pure competition, the harshest form of competition, is what develops people -- not taking care of them. I think that's a false assumption."

The question that still looms, then, is: If institutions will no longer be able to consider race in admissions, how will they make sure that they maintain diverse student populations?

Don Brown, commissioner of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, brought up another reason why higher education institutions have a duty to diversify their campuses.

"By 2010, the majority of people in Texas will be Hispanic and African American," he said. "If we do not succeed in bringing Hispanics and African Americans into full participation and success in higher education, by the year 2020 our average family incomes will be several thousand dollars lower than they are now. We will have a less educated population, and we will be less able to engage in full economic competition with other states."