Governor Jeb Bush on November 9, 1999, announced his "One Florida Initiative" which would end affirmative action programs for women and minorities in admitting university students and in awarding state contracts. Bush's initiative proposes to replace these programs with other allegedly more inclusive measures. AAUW opposes Bush's "One Florida Initiative" because it does not offer effective alternatives that are capable of maintaining the inclusiveness and diversity obtained through affirmative action.

AAUW supports affirmative action programs that establish equal opportunity for women and minorities; redress past gender, racial, and ethnic discrimination; and encourage diversity in the workplace and in educational institutions. AAUW's mission to promote gender equity in education is founded on the belief that all individuals have the right to "...full and free opportunity --- intellectually, socially, and economically, including the right to be employed according to abilities without regard to sex." In the "One Florida Initiative" women are not even addressed!

On Tuesday, March 7 AAUW will join with other Florida Women's Consortium groups for a Coalition of Conscience March in Tallahassee. At 11:00 a.m. women will join forces to present Governor Bush a unified front of opposition to "One Florida Initiative." Please join with us on March 7. Do it for yourself, for AAUW, for our daughters and granddaughters, for the future of all women.

See YOU in Tallahassee March 7, 2000!

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