In light of the ongoing controversy surrounding affirmative action, students and faculty discussed both sides of affirmative action and its future Thursday night.

More than 70 students and faculty attended "Crossing the Battle Lines" at the Illini Union and discussed the misconceptions, opinions and concerns some people have about affirmative action.

The forum featured two speakers: Assistant Chancellor and Director of Affirmative Action at the University Lorine Cowan, and assistant professor Denise Green.

Cowan spoke about the history and need for affirmative action.

"We don't have a level playing field," Cowan said. "That's why we continue to fight for our affirmative action and our affirmative action programs."

"Women have been the biggest beneficiaries of affirmative action, and because they are the biggest beneficiaries they will be the biggest losers if affirmative action is overturned," Cowan said.

Green said while affirmative action was originally instituted for blacks because of their history of being discriminated against, white women have benefitted the most from affirmative action.

Students and faculty exchanged opposing views in the question and answer period that followed the speakers.

Senior in business Veronica Uwumarogie represented the National Association of Black Accountants at the forum and attended the forum to defend affirmative action.

"If many companies and universities had a choice, they would not hire or accept us," Uwumarogie said. "We face a lot more barriers than our counterparts — and that is why affirmative action is needed."

Uwumarogie feels affirmative action is being threatened by the Bush administration.

"A lot of Bush's new policies don't benefit African-Americans," she said. "Bush thinks affirmative action is more a cost than a benefit."

Green said research shows Americans of all backgrounds benefit from the diversity affirmative action brings.

"Do we really believe in democracy? Democracy includes everyone and everyone's talent," Green said. "Because of integration we have been separated in a way we haven't been in the past."

But Urbana resident Dimitri Epstein, and recent graduate of Emory University in Atlanta, Ga., does not support affirmative action because he feels it is unfair to poor whites.

"I don't think race should be considered because it will cause more rift," Epstein said. "Affirmative action is the wrong approach to fix a problem that needs to be addressed. We need to search for better ways to solve the issue."

Epstein argued for social economic status, rather than race, to be considered for college admissions.

Cowan said while there has been some progress for minorities as a result of affirmative action in college admissions, there is still a long way to go in regard to black faculty.