By Neal Narahara Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Several regents, representatives from the UC Office of the
President, the graduate and professional schools, as well as
student protesters from the law school, shared their perspectives
at this year’s Graduate Council and Division retreat titled
"Diversity Advance."
"It was a look at where we are and where we need to get to," Jim
Turner, assistant vice chancellor of the Graduate Division, said at
the March 24 conference.
The program, which began with presentations about outreach
efforts and the difference in demographics between UCLA and the
general population, erupted into a lively discussion later in the
afternoon with the introduction of a panel of law students –
several of whom participated in the Feb. 24 takeover of the records
office in the law school protesting the low numbers of
underrepresented minorities admitted in this year’s class.
"That whole thing was personally really painful for my staff and
me," said Elizabeth Cheadle, assistant dean in charge of admissions
for the law school, about the takeover of her office. "We care
deeply about those same issues."
Although she shared the students frustrations, Cheadle said the
means they chose to express themselves did unnecessary harm to
their relationship with an ally in their struggle to maintain
diversity. Despite this earlier conflict, however, law school
representatives were encouraged by what the students had to say at
the meeting.
In addition to re-presenting their demands from the protest, the
student panel attacked the Regents’ SP-1, which eliminated
race-based admissions in the UC system and the message they said it
sent to potential students.
"SP-1 is signalling to students of color that they’re not
necessarily wanted or prioritized," said York Chang, one of the law
student protesters.
Many administrators also agreed that the regents’ actions –
separate from those set out by Proposition 209 – were a major cause
for their difficulty in maintaining a diverse student body. Part of
the problem stems from a difference in wording between the two,
which may allow for more freedom under Proposition 209, said some
of those present.
"It’s a completely unexplored caveat of the law," said Sheila
O’Rourke from UCOP. "In theory, under 209, one could take race into
consideration. SP-1 is more restrictive."
The law students also were pleased with the responses of
administrators in support of overturning SP-1.
"We’ve been struggling and there’s been a lot of butting heads,
but this kind of gives us a sense of solidarity," said Susanne
Blossom, another of the law student protesters and the president of
the school’s class of 2001.
After the panel, representatives from several graduate
departments spoke about their individual outreach efforts and the
ways that they could improve diversity.
Among some of the issues raised was the "pool problem" resulting
from less diverse undergraduate populations.
"There is a tremendous focus on undergraduate diversity," Turner
said. "We wanted to raise awareness. As the undergraduate
population becomes less diverse, it will impact the graduate
population."
Also discussed were the plausibility at the different schools of
using more personalized admissions, such as interviews and weighing
extra-curricular activities more heavily in their
considerations.
Representatives from several schools with similar candidate
pools, such as public health and medicine, also suggested
cooperation in recruiting efforts.