UWM officials have covered up these findings from review by students, the community and the media.

After an 18-month audit revealed three affirmative action violations at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the NAACP is requesting an immediate investigation of the university.

The U.S. Department of Labor Office of Federal Contracts Compliance Program (OFCCP) conducted the random audit on UWMs affirmative action program in November of 2004.

According to the report, UWM neglected to identify and monitor affirmative action policy problem areas and failed to take action steps required to correct its problem areas.

However, a letter written March 1 from Vice Chancellor for University Relations and Communications Tom Luljak said the results of the audit were three technical violations pertaining to documentation processes.

But NAACP officials feel that response is unacceptable.

Jerry Ann Hamilton, president of the Milwaukee NAACP branch, wrote a letter on March 23 to the university in response. According to the letter, these technical violations are most serious and go to the very heart of affirmative action.

Hamilton said UWM also failed to publicize this information.

UWM officials have covered up these findings from review by students, the community and the media, wrote Hamilton.

However, Luljak denies that UWM hid any information concerning the investigation results.

The results of the audit were widely discussed by many campus groups during 2006, wrote Luljak.

This list included university administrators at divisional and departmental levels, staff and hiring and governance committees.

The NAACP is now requesting that Gov. Jim Doyle launch an immediate investigation into the hiring and promotion activities at UWM.

The NAACPs growing concern over affirmative action policies coincides with the organizations recent investigation of enrollment and employment practices at the university.

According to the NAACPs study, enrollment of white students has increased by 4,700 while African-American students rose only 113 over the last decade. The investigation also found that 40 African-American faculty are employed, compared to 590 white faculty members.

But Luljak believes UWMs enrollment and hiring practices are showing improvement, and are on par with other universities.

Over the past decade, he wrote, the number of faculty members of color has grown at a rate that is greater than that of their white colleagues.

State Rep. Jason Fields (D-Milwaukee) received the OFFCP investigation results, and has planned to discuss the issue with UWM Chancellor Carlos Santiago. Fields said he believes much of the controversy stems from misunderstandings and hopes that bringing the issue to the forefront can help reach a positive resolution.

Its an issue of not being culturally sensitive or aware on the subject matter, Fields said. People are not taught to deal with the issue.

Fields, a native of Milwaukee, said he hopes that by bringing these issues to the publics attention, a positive resolution can be reached.

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