Action, action

When affirmative action was outlawed in California a decade ago, many thought it represented the end of diversity in college enrollment. And for a while, the evidence supported that theory. Black enrollment went into a sharp decline only reversed this year, and while Chinese students are the second largest population group at UC Berkeley, less than 2 percent of freshmen at UCLA last year were black. Clearly, the influx of diversity hasn’t been equal across the board.\nHowever, efforts in the private sector are on the rise. In response to the low number of black freshmen at UCLA, Peter Taylor, an alumnus, began a campaign to raise scholarship money for needy applicants as well as provide mentoring for potential students. It worked. This year, the number of black freshmen at UCLA has doubled, and Taylor’s efforts are only increasing. \nThe reversal of the slide in black enrollment, especially without the controversy of affirmative action, is certainly something to cheer about. It demonstrates the utility of private efforts to correct the problem and helps students who face obstacles get into the classroom without race-based admissions. \nBesides the increase in black enrollment, there have been other successes. There has been a substantial increase in enrollment for students with at least one non-native parent, without the aid of affirmative action. And even as college becomes more expensive, 24 percent of students at University of California schools reported a family income of less than $35,000 a year. This is a tremendous step in the right direction. \nWhat’s more, the significance of these individuals graduating from college is greater than if they were aided by the affirmative action system. Their accomplishments stand independent of the admissions process, having met the requirements of the institutions they now attend, just like any of their peers. If students are able to meet entrance requirements, it seems as though their most prominent difficulties have been overcome. \nEven supporters of affirmative action recognize its shortcomings. It was designed to address the symptoms, not the roots, of our nation’s educational woes. Even ignoring suggestions of unfairness, putting students in college who do not necessarily meet the requirements can set them up for failure, lessens their success in the public eye and diminishes the efforts of other minority students who would have been accepted for other reasons. Surely a helping hand should be extended to students who face unique challenges, but the aim of such actions should be to prepare students to meet admission standards. Knowledge and ability cannot be compensated, and admissions are no guarantee of success. \nBy no means should we assume that we have resolved all racial and socioeconomic issues facing potential college students. Still, California’s example demonstrates that the state is not the only place where we can level the playing field. Even without affirmative action, we can see real developments in the college environment and improvements in diversity on campus.