If UC values diversity, it should hire Latino

EDITORIAL BOARD Editor in
Chief  Timothy Kudo

Managing Editor
 Michael Falcone

Viewpoint Editor
 Cuauhtemoc Ortega

Staff Representatives
 Maegan Carberry
 Edward Chiao
 Kelly Rayburn

Editorial Board Assistants
 Maegan Carberry
 Edward Chiao

  Unsigned editorials represent a majority opinion of
the Daily Bruin Editorial Board. All other columns, letters and
artwork represent the opinions of their authors.   All
submitted material must bear the author’s name, address, telephone
number, registration number, or affiliation with UCLA. Names will
not be withheld except in extreme cases.   The Bruin
complies with the Communication Board’s policy prohibiting the
publication of articles that perpetuate derogatory cultural or
ethnic stereotypes.   When multiple authors submit
material, some names may be kept on file rather than published with
the material. The Bruin reserves the right to edit submitted
material and to determine its placement in the paper. All
submissions become the property of The Bruin. The Communications
Board has a media grievance procedure for resolving complaints
against any of its publications. For a copy of the complete
procedure, contact the Publications office at 118 Kerckhoff Hall.
Daily Bruin 118 Kerckhoff Hall 308 Westwood Plaza Los Angeles, CA
90024 (310) 825-9898

UC Riverside may soon need a new chancellor, and with the
expiration of an appointed regent’s term, this is a good
opportunity to address the serious lack of diversity at the
chancellor and regent levels. Gov. Gray Davis and UC President
Richard Atkinson should keep this in mind while making their
respective new appointments.

While Proposition 209 prohibits the consideration of race in
hiring, there are ways the university can proactively seek out
qualified minority candidates for the position without breaking the
law. A Latino chancellor would send a message to the state and
minority populations that in the post-affirmative action era, the
UC values diversity enough to encourage it among its top
administrative positions. Currently, only two out of 18 appointed
regents are Latino; and nine out of 10 chancellors are white.

The demographics surrounding Riverside logically favor the
appointment of a Latino chancellor. Latinos make up 22 percent of
students at UCR and account for over 50 percent of the population
around Riverside. Appointing a Latino wouldn’t necessarily be
because of race, but because a Latino can offer first-hand
knowledge about other Latinos ““ the largest minority in
California ““ more so than anyone else could. This would most
accurately and responsibly represent California; it is not an issue
of politics, it is one of representation.