Speaks out

In light of the University of Michigan case, do you think public
schools should be allowed to use race as a factor in the admissions
process? What about private schools? Do you think that affirmative
action discriminates against whites? Claude Distin

First-year, biochemistry

“I think both public and private schools should use race
as a factor in the admissions process. But they should also look
more importantly at the socioeconomic background of applicants.
Many areas that have predominantly minority residents have many
disadvantages that make it hard to get good grades in high school
and get into college. Some of the other ethnic groups that
may be considered under the white race also face these same
economic and social disadvantages. Most of what I have heard
is about minority areas not having enough money for books, but
other richer areas where mostly white people live always have
enough money for books, sometimes even giving students two
sets of books, one for school and one for home, which is an
advantage, even if it is small. Colleges should look at these
socioeconomic factors more so than just race, even if the
two overlap.” Omid Noorani

Fourth-year, applied mathematics

“I believe that everyone should have the opportunity and
privilege to go to a private institute, no
matter what your background and history, but only if you are
qualified to attend that university. I think that private schools
shouldn’t be able to use race in their admissions process. They
should acknowledge the race of the applicants, but should pick the
most qualified of the applicants. At the University of California
system, and other public schools, they shouldn’t
use race as well, for the same reasons. It is in a way
discriminating against white people, who may be more qualified
by trying to bring in more people from different
races to make a diverse school. The point of the university is not
only to have a diverse group, but more importantly it is to carry
on research and education, especially in a publicly funded school.
Diversity is good, but not as helpful as having good
scholars.”Â  Diann Brizzolara

Third-year, psychobiology

“Private schools are going to run by their own rules, but
I personally think that they shouldn’t use race as a factor
in admissions. If you are a minority it doesn’t
necessarily mean you have been oppressed, because there are
socioeconomic standards as well that need to be looked at. Because
public schools are funded by public tax dollars, they
shouldn’t use race in their admissions process. The state of
California passed Proposition 209 because it didn’t believe
in affirmative action and if the state isn’t supporting it,
then the public universities have to follow the direction of the
state. The university really needs to look at everyone’s
background, because if you are white it doesn’t mean you
come from a bad situation, and the same thing goes with minorities.
Categorizing everyone by race isn’t fair.” John Vu

Third-year, economics

“Race should be considered in the admissions process,
because a lot of times socioeconomic factors overlap with ethnicity
and there is not a lot of diversity in private institutions
and they need to add such diversity. In the same respect, public
schools should also use race as a factor. The admissions
process is very subjective, and GPA and SAT
scores don’t necessarily test the potential of a
student, because there are so many other factors. It is
hard to quantify someone’s potential in a score
and other things should be included, such as race and
background, as in the comprehensive approach being used by the
University of California. Other factors like race and economic
background should be included to bring in a more diverse population
of intelligent students. A lot of high schools inflate
the GPA and provide SAT classes, and many minority
students don’t have such programs.” Speaks Out
compiled by Kelsey Hicks/Daily Bruin Senior Staff,

Photos by Nicholas Swan/Daily Bruin