Speaking out against affirmative action programs, the former principal who reformed drug-ridden Eastside High School said last night that educational equality and self-reliance are the keys to success.

Promising the crowd of more than 2,000 in Eisenhower Auditorium, "Tonight, you shan't be bored," Joe Clark launched into an almost two-hour speech. Constantly animated, he told the audience never to try to please anyone else.

"I am a firm believer in doing things for self," he said. "If you end up being nothing, blame yourself because that's what you wanted to be -- a damn nothing," he said.

Calling affirmative action programs unconstitutional, Clark said black students must have equal accessibility to a good elementary and high school education to compete at the college level.

"You can't tear this group down to build this group up," he said, referring to white and black students. "What you have to do is repair the system."

Affirmative action "creates an atmosphere of inferiority" for black students because it sends a message that they can't compete with whites intellectually, he said.

Until teachers are valued in America and parents can send their children to the school of their choice, education will be unequal for everyone, he said.

"American education is antithetical to the idea of democracy," Clark said.

He praised the education majors in the audience as the solution to the country's educational problems. "You, in the grasp of your hands, you control the future of this great country," he said.

Clark also proposed a hard-line solution to the nation's drug problem -- the use of military force to keep drugs out of the country and capital punishment for convicted drug dealers.

"America is on Mount Oblivion, getting ready to take the plunge," he warned.

The speech met frequently with applause and laughter, but Eisenhower House Manager Peter Zimmerman said about 300 people left the speech early, apparently in disagreement with Clark.

But Clark, who is famous for having patrolled the halls of Eastside with a bullhorn and baseball bat, said he doesn't mind being the subject of controversy.

"Controversy, I have found out, is the essence of success," he said. "There is no correlation between the tranquil aspects of living in this world and productivity."

Some students found Clark's speech "inspiring," but others disagreed with him.

"He's a very strong man," said Vince Evans (junior-quantitative business analysis). "(The speech) made me realize I'm going to stand up in my life, too."

But Amy Rosenberg (junior-elementary education) said Clark ignored the issue that even with a good education, some people fall victim to racism and sexism in the job market.