The Defend Affirmative Action Party, the oldest party in this winter"s Michigan Student Assembly elections, is campaigning on many of the same issues they have valued since 1997.

"We"re running in these elections to build the movement to defend affirmative action," said presidential candidate Erika Dowdell.

DAAP members said they feel they have a strong platform because they have fulfilled past campaign promises. They have promised to defend against what they call the "legal attack" on affirmative action at U of M, build a new civil rights movement, and organize mass education on affirmative action and related social issues.

"In reality, we"re the only people that actually stand for anything," said vice-presidential candidate Jessica Curtin.

By running with DAAP, candidates are confident their main objectives will be obvious to voters.

"I dealt with issues personally of racism which pushed me towards wanting to fight for students rights," said LSA freshman Ebonie Byndon, a DAAP representative candidate.

DAAP also hopes to extend education of affirmative action to grades K-12. They promise to continue with their past tradition of sponsoring day of action protests and bringing events such as Affirmative Action 102 to campus.

DAAP members also promise to continue their extensive involvement in the lawsuits against the University"s admission policies. The party was founded by student intervenors, several of whom testified in the trials.

Fighting for student rights is another issue at the top of DAAP"s platform. They promise to stop tuition increases and organize support for a North America-wide tuition freeze.

DAAP candidates also pride themselves on their willingness to stand up to the administration, Curtin said.

"When Vice President for Student Affairs Royster Harper sat in a meeting last year some representatives actually argued for tuition increases," said Curtin. "We would never do that. We will never back down."

Since its formation DAAP has been for abolishing the Code of Student Conduct, not amending it. They promise to continue fighting it like they have been doing for the past three years.

DAAP also promises to end police "harassment" of student parties and end police and administration "scapegoating" of fraternities and sororities.

"Everyone should vote for us because we"re fighting for them," Curtin said.