Thursday, April 9, 1998
Minority groups get mobilized
to save diversity
ADMISSIONS: Administration gives frustrated associations a cold
shoulder on which to cry
By Barbara Ortutay
Daily Bruin Contributor
Following the drastic drop in UCLA’s minority admissions for
fall 1998, Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan (MEChA) and the
African Student Union (ASU) have expressed concern over the
administration’s response to UCLA’s loss of diversity.
Both groups met on Wednesday night to discuss their position and
possible action regarding the issue.
"ASU is appalled at the number of African American students that
have been admitted to the freshman class at UCLA for the 1998-99
year," said ASU chair Chad Williams.
The number of African American and Latino students admitted has
dropped by 42.6 percent and 33 percent, respectively, from last
year.
According to Williams, on Wednesday of finals week ASU contacted
Chancellor Albert Carnesale to set up a meeting to discuss the
effects of Proposition 209 on admissions. A representative told ASU
that they could set up a meeting with a vice chancellor on April 22
at the soonest, but that Carnesale would not be at the 9 a.m.
meeting until the end.
"The fact that Chancellor Carnesale has made no effort to meet
with the ASU and African American students prior to the release of
the admissions numbers demonstrates his insensitivity to our
community and our concerns regarding diversity at UCLA," said
Williams.
"It is clear that the administration is taking a relaxed
approach to a serious issue," he added.
When asked about his position on Prop. 209, Carnesale replied
that his position was irrelevant, because it is not in his power to
work outside the law.
"Do you want to know my position on the 14th amendment?" he
added.
Carnesale went on to say that his position on 209 doesn’t affect
his sincerity to maintain diversity at UCLA.
MEChA also emphasized Carnesale’s responsibility to maintain
diversity at UCLA. However, Chairman Hugo Maldonado believes that
the chancellor is in a difficult position.
"He has to follow the letter of the law, regardless of whether
he agrees or disagrees with it," Maldonado said.
Maldonado said MEChA’s reaction to the admission statistics was
"outrage."
"The people who opened the doors of this university to people of
color sacrificed a lot," he added.
Year after year, the number of qualified college applicants
increases. This year’s freshman applicants were the strongest,
academically, in UCLA history, with a mean GPA of 4.19 (an increase
from last year’s 4.01). According to Maldonado, "the university
needs to be showing it is doing a lot more to recruit students of
color" in order to maintain diversity.
John Caldwell, general counsel for the Black Alumni Association,
expressed his concern for the decrease in the presence of
minorities at UCLA as a result of Prop. 209.
"At this point, ASU and every other African American group is
fighting for its survival on campus" he said.
Both groups are expected to release further statements on their
concerns and demands of maintaining diversity at UCLA.