Tuesday, November 24, 1998
Letters
Bruin Editorial’s argument for diversity flawed
I have read the multitude of articles in the Bruin during the
last few years which concern Proposition 209. The Editorial Board’s
Wednesday editorial, "Proposition 209 has nationwide domino effect"
is the latest of these articles.
The principle difficulty I have with such articles is that all
of the arguments against the spread of legislation similar to Prop.
209 are based on the Editorial Board’s opinion that a decrease in
diversity has a very negative impact on the university and student
body. This latest editorial states that "a diverse student body
creates an environment where different ideas can (be) voiced and
exchanged, which is necessary at any educational institution."
The implication here is that different ideas can only be voiced
with a diverse student body. I don’t think that this is true. Just
within the two largest ethnic groups on campus, whites and Asians,
there exists a vast array of differing opinions and ideas about the
world we inhabit as well as many academic matters.
The next statement in support of diversity, "Different
perspectives are assets to academic and cultural growth; students
need to encounter opinions which challenge their own if they are
ever to grow, change or truly expand their knowledge" again
associates ethnicity with different perspectives.
I agree that perspectives different from our own help us grow
academically and as people. I just don’t believe that the those
perspectives only come from differences in ethnic background. More
often, I think, they come from who we are inside.
An example: today I live with four friends, two of whom are
Mexican American, and one of whom is African American. Several
years ago, all my roommates were white. In both cases we put forth
differing opinions on things that college students deal with and
opinions on the world at large. The range of opinions was the same,
regardless of which set of roommates it was. How then, do I
explicitly benefit from the racial diversity of my current
roommates? I don’t.
My point in this example is not that racial diversity is a bad
thing. I do, however, want to point out that the logic used by the
Bruin to support the claim that "diversity is necessary" seems
weak. There simply isn’t any proof that diversity is necessary.
Perhaps the psychology or sociology departments have done
studies to show whether or not racial diversity at a campus is
detrimental to a person’s education. If not, maybe they should,
because while the opponents of Proposition 209 and its effects have
a cause they feel strongly in, they don’t have the factual support
needed to sway people to accept their viewpoint. And without facts,
theirs is just another opinion against the majority.
Alexander Schwarz
Fifth-year
Geography student
Improve education system from bottom up
It has become painfully clear from reading several months of
Viewpoint articles that few people understand the deeper
ramifications of the statistical change attributed to Proposition
209 (Daily Bruin Editorial, Nov. 18).
Proposition 209 has indeed eliminated a measure of diversity
seen in the academic qualifications of students entering the
flagship universities of the UC system. Academic skills are not
magically conferred upon matriculation at UCLA or UC Berkeley.
These skills, however, form the basis of one’s ability to succeed
when confronted with other talented students at these flagship
universities.
African American enrollment declined by 42 percent at UCLA this
year with the elimination of affirmative action. This large decline
indicates that many African American students admitted under
affirmative action had fewer academic skills to draw upon.
Logically, it would seem that this would cause them to have more
difficulty succeeding than the average student. Berkeley’s
graduation statistics reflect this: 42 percent of African Americans
did not graduate as compared to 16 percent of the white population.
Under Proposition 209, we have finally started placing these
individuals in a climate more appropriate for their academic
skills; in this environment, they have a better opportunity to earn
a degree and to succeed.
Proposition 209’s impact is a painful indication that
affirmative action served as a smokescreen used to mask gaping
wounds in the framework of our system of public education.
We can now agitate for improved K-12 educational facilities;
this will allow students a facility where it is possible to learn.
We can debate the merits of outreach programs that target only
UC-eligible students. We can demand measures to create teacher
accountability and strengthen teaching proficiency. In short,
rather than putting a bandage on the festering wounds of our
educational system, we are now focused on attacking the ailments
that generate such a disparity in qualifications.
Our attention should be focused on creating educational equity
for the millions within our educational system, not masking such
inequity by juggling the admissions numbers of several hundred at
the top. Only when this is achieved will we find true parity in
admissions and in society as a whole.
Vijay Goel
Fourth-year
Physiological science student
School rivalry, not school hatred
In an age when acceptance and tolerance are practically forced
down our throats, especially at our notably diverse campus, it
baffles me that people pay money for products that promote hate,
like the "I Hate Trojans" bumper stickers. I also do not understand
why there arose a need for students to be "given the opportunity to
release their anger and hostility towards USC by bashing a maroon
and gold colored car with a sledgehammer" last Wednesday,
especially when USC hasn’t beaten UCLA in football in years.
I’m glad that I go to UCLA and I’m that we won the game on
Saturday, but I don’t see why we should be so filled with rage.
There is nothing wrong with being excited about your team and
getting psyched up before a big game with the school across town.
But why tear someone else down? I do not see the appeal of playing
with Trojan voodoo dolls or throwing paint on statues. When things
like this are done in excess, or with a mean-spirited attitude, a
person can appear petty and childish.
I think that it is perfectly cool to brag that UCLA has won the
big football game against USC for eight straight years. School
spirit and school pride are both great and we have plenty of
reasons to be proud and brag about our fine school.
Nicholas Sweet
First-year
Undeclared student
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