Study jumps to conclusions

A study conducted by a University of California at Los Angeles law professor suggests affirmative action harms black students more than it helps them, as it pushes them to confront curriculum they are not prepared to face.\nThe author of this study -- Richard H. Sander -- looked at 27,000 students who entered law school in 1991 and found a gap between the performance of white and black students.\nSander suggests that ending racial preferences in law school admissions would increase the number of black lawyers because it would help ensure that students attend institutions where they are more likely to succeed, maintain higher grade point averages and pass the bar exam.\nHowever, we must acknowledge Sander only surveyed a portion of black students out of an entire population of those who enter law schools. \nWhile Sander suggests black students should attend less competitive law schools, we feel affirmative action programs ensure a level playing field between races. Affirmative action is designed to ensure that institutions are not intentionally discriminating against minority groups. If the program was reduced, we would be taking a step backward.\nWe strongly believe these findings are generalizations that make a number of unreasonable assumptions that have no relevance to the aptitude of black students. And though this study has a number of holes in it, we fear legislators might consider this information as valid when it in fact has no solid evidence. \nWe encourage diversity in every institution and believe affirmative action is not only beneficial for minority students, but for everyone.