Monday, April 6, 1998
Encouragement key to saving diversity
ADMISSIONS: Students must reach out, accept incoming
freshman
By Albert Carnesale
The recent announcement on admissions to UCLA’s fall 1998
freshman class has left many members of our community feeling
frustrated, disappointed and angry. While the 10,600 students we
accepted constitute a class that is the strongest academically in
UCLA history, the data show that 739 fewer American Indian, African
American and Chicano/Latino applicants were accepted this year.
However, compared to last year, the number of underrepresented
minority applicants was slightly larger.
Of the record 32,600 applicants we had this year – more than any
university in America – we regretfully denied admission to more
than 22,000 high-school seniors. Most are excellent students and
superb young men and women who could have been successful at UCLA
and would have enriched our community with their unique talents and
perspectives.
Our incoming class will be the largest of any University of
California campus. But as members of our current student body know
only too well, there is a limit to the number we can accommodate
here.
Many UCLA students, faculty and alumni and I are deeply
concerned about the possible effect of this year’s admissions
results on the diversity of our community. This campus has long
been known nationally and internationally for both excellence and
diversity. UCLA, like the great city in which it resides, is a
model of diversity. When we talk about diversity, we refer not only
to ethnic and racial lines. At UCLA, we value diversity along
economic, social, geographic and ideological lines as well.
Our success in developing a heterogeneous community of scholars
has confirmed the ideas which remain the basis of our commitment to
diversity.
We recognize that students learn valuable lessons from one
another and need to be engaged with the broadest possible cross
section of contemporary society. We know that as a public
institution of higher education we have a responsibility to prepare
leaders from and for every segment of our society. And we fully
appreciate that access to top-quality education has always been and
remains the key to economic and social mobility in America.
UCLA long ago debunked the myth that diversity can be achieved
only at the expense of quality. We’ve proven that one enhances the
other. We take great pride in having brought together one of the
most diverse student bodies on any university campus in the
nation.
But now we find ourselves acting under the constraints of
Proposition 209, passed by the voters of California in November
1996, which prohibits the use of affirmative action – a tool we’ve
long employed to help achieve racial and ethnic diversity.
Like many of you, I am anxious that some segments of the
community will be inadequately represented in this fall’s freshman
class. We need to redouble our efforts to ensure that a world-class
education is made accessible to all who are qualified. In full
compliance with the letter and the spirit of the law, we must do
all that we can to achieve the greatest possible diversity in next
year’s freshman class and in the classes of following years.
At this moment, perhaps more than at any time before, it is
critically important that potential students of every race and
ethnicity understand that UCLA provides a hospitable and nurturing
environment in which to learn and live. However, as we view the
result of this year’s admission process, we must come together in a
chorus of affirmative reaction to send an unequivocal message to
every student admitted for the fall – and especially to those from
underrepresented minorities: Come to UCLA. You will receive an
outstanding education here. UCLA wants you and needs you.
The clock is running: Now is the time to focus our collective
energy on encouraging every admitted student to come to UCLA. Over
the next few weeks, UCLA will undertake an unprecedented
recruitment effort to enroll the students we need to sustain our
tradition of excellence and diversity.
Within individual schools and departments there are many ways
for students to help in this effort. I encourage you to consult
with your provost’s or dean’s office to learn more about
opportunities for you to participate in recruiting efforts at the
local level.
At the institutional level, Undergraduate Admissions, the
Academic Advancement Program and the UCLA Alumni Association have
historically led the way in our spring recruitment effort. On April
7, 8 and 9, between the hours of 6:30 and 9:00 p.m., the Admissions
Office is coordinating the phoning of hundreds of prospective
students to congratulate them on earning admission to UCLA and to
urge them to enroll. For more information on this program or to
make known your willingness to participate, please call Ed Harris
at (310) 206-4353.
Those who have the best cause to feel hurt and angered by this
year’s admissions results are precisely those upon whom we must
rely on to play a constructive role in our recruiting efforts.
Every single member of our community stands to benefit enormously
if we succeed in attracting the very best students of all race and
ethnicities to come to UCLA. We must join together in this
effort.