DENVER—Three Division I men’s basketball coaches in Colorado are opposing a ballot measure that would ban affirmative action in the state.
The coaches of the University of Colorado, Colorado State University and the University of Northern Colorado issued a statement Wednesday saying Amendment 46 is a threat to college students.
A similar measure is on the Nebraska ballot.
CU coach Jeff Bzdelik said the state should increase opportunities for minority students rather than eliminating them.
“Diversity makes CU strong—we need more of it, not less,” Bzdelik said.
Supporters of the amendment say affirmative action is no longer needed.
Colorado Civil Rights Initiative Executive Director Jessica Peck Corry, whose group supports the amendment, said the coaches’ stance is ironic because they presumably select players based on merit, not race.
“If those who advocated for preference based on diversity had their way, we’d have a much different racial makeup on basketball teams,” she said.
Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter also opposes the amendment, saying it would eliminate years of progress in education, health care, and work force development.
Similar initiatives have already been approved in California, Michigan and Washington.
