Why is affirmative action important for higher education?

Affirmative action is important to higher education because...it provides a platform and an effort to encourage, motivate and empower the "minority" through educational avenues and fight discrimination and racism.
Ophelia Morris, UFT, New York City

Affirmative action is important to higher education because...it works! The playing field needed to be leveled both to right the wrongs of the past, and also to thoroughly diversify the job market. I'm thrilled by and enriched by the colors and sounds of the world around me. I'm proud to be part of the generation that supported, and still supports, affirmative action.
Beth Shapiro, Port Jefferson Station Teachers Association, NY

Affirmative action is important to higher education because as a woman and a Mexican-American, I realize that both as a role model and as a successful academic, it is very important that educators such as I am are more visible and available to all undergraduates, who may be first-generation college students.
Susanna de Falla, Central New Mexico Community College, NM

Affirmative action is important to higher education because we only guarantee the diversity of ideas for our academic marketplace by having a diversity of people generating these ideas.
Joseph Soler, Temple Univ. Graduate Students Association, PA 

Affirmative action is important to higher education because it provides an opportunity for those who have had a harder hill to climb in reaching competencies for higher education. Having such students in the mix in higher ed is extremely beneficial to all. It adds the dimension of class, race, ethnic, and gender differences and common goals, and an ability to understand multiple perspectives.
Anca Vlasopolos, Wayne State University AAUP/AFT Faculty, MI

Affirmative action is important to higher education because no one can quite walk in another's shoes and during the 40+ years I worked t CUNY, I found the participation of students from many different backgrounds and also different genders extremely enlightening and challenging. 
Ann Sprayregen (Retired), Professional Staff Congress, NY