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Karume James, a fifth-year Afro-American studies student and chairman of the Afrikan Student Unio

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Karume James (left), a fifth-year Afro-American studies student, hands a megaphone to Vice Chance

A few hundred students – from the Afrikan Student Union, other underrepresented communities and their supporters – marched to Chancellor Albert Carnesale’s office Wednesday in a rally to encourage reform of UCLA admissions policies and to address concerns regarding a lack of diversity at UCLA.

The march began at the base of Meyerhoff Park, where participants proceeded up to Murphy Hall’s second-floor hallway, lining the walls at first, then crowding the hallway as time went on.

Lack of diversity has been a concern of students and faculty for a long time, especially after statistics from this year’s admissions were released in April.

The report showed that the number of underrepresented minority students admitted has decreased, from 1,732 admitted students in 2005 to 1,669 in 2006. Black students made up 2 percent of those admitted to UCLA this year, down from 2.4 percent last year.

Karume James, a fifth-year Afro-American studies student and chairman of ASU, said he and others demanded the chancellor declare a state of crisis for black admissions at UCLA. They also called for him to maintain funding for outreach programs and reconsider the use of winter admissions for freshmen, with the goal of raising the percentage of black students to 9 percent, equal to that of blacks living in Los Angeles.

He led students in chants and songs throughout the march, which was also attended by faculty, staff and alumni.

“(Diversity is) an issue that’s affecting everyone on this campus,” James said.

The group piled into the hallway, packed almost shoulder-to-shoulder, awaiting a response to their chants.

Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Janina Montero arrived at the hallway shortly after and met privately with student leaders, including James and 2005-2006 Undergraduate Students Association Council President Jenny Wood.

While the meeting was going on privately, individual students outside addressed the crowd, which university police estimated to be between 200 and 300 people, as they fanned themselves with fliers. Many were wearing black shirts with “got black students?” printed in white lettering.

After the meeting, Montero addressed the rally participants, saying she was presented with many letters. Of them, 564 were from prospective students regarding concerns about the lack of diversity at UCLA; 110 were appeal letters from underrepresented minority students who were denied admission for fall 2006; and 73 were from teachers and counselors. She also received a petition with hundreds of student signatures.

Also, James said the student leaders demanded a meeting with the chancellor within the next week.

“The chancellor plays a role in ensuring the diversity of this campus,” he said.

If Carnesale does not meet with students by the proposed deadline, James said he and others will take more action to agitate the issue of diversity at UCLA.

Lauren Bartlett, a spokeswoman for UCLA, said the chancellor is out of town this week for a scheduled trip and plans to return Friday.

While Montero said she will try to communicate to Carnesale the information she was given, she could not guarantee a meeting would be possible, depending on his schedule.

She also expressed concern over the ability of administrators to find solutions to the lack of diversity through admissions, as Proposition 209, passed in 1996, made the use of affirmative action illegal in public entities such as the University of California.

But she thanked the rally participants, with tears welling up in her eyes, for their continued concern regarding diversity at UCLA.

“Just because I tear up now doesn’t mean I care more than others,” she said after addressing the crowd, adding that many administrators have serious concerns about the issue of diversity.

James said the admissions at UCLA overemphasizes academic performance, de-emphasizing life challenges and adversely affecting students of color.

He added that students will look to Carnesale to urge the chancellor search committee to find a new chancellor who will give priority to diversity and has a record of doing so in the past.

A community forum and press conference will be held by ASU next Thursday, in coordination with other student groups and underrepresented communities in South Los Angeles, James said, where a coalition will be developed to fight what he calls the injustice of admissions.