The Daily Californian (UC Berkeley) Weighs in on the Regents Meeting

I found this interesting article in the Daily Californian, the newspaper of UC Berkeley in regards to Wednesday's regents meeting, which centered around a spate of racially-charged incidents on UC campuses.

http://www.dailycal.org/article/108782/regents_discuss_changing_uc_admissions_policy_in_l

It is interesting that President Mark Yudof would like to change the UC admissions policy from grade point average to a "more holistic" approach. This was in conjunction with a discussion about the low numbers of African-American students. Does this mean that he would like to skirt around Proposition 209, a measure passed by California voters in 1996 to prohibit admissions based on ethnicity?

I also found this statement by a UCSD Black Student Union member interesting:

"Changing the admissions policy at UC San Diego is not going to change the problem," she said when addressing the board. "If you admit more black students, they are still not going to come to UCSD knowing that the climate is going to be hostile towards them. You all should honestly be ashamed of yourselves if you are just going to increase the numbers and think that critical mass is going to change it."

Without taking a side on that question, it is similar to the debate going on now about Jewish students enrolling at UC-Irvine, of which I have written. I do question, however, how building African-American resource centers on campuses would change anything either.

UC San Diego experienced some troubling events last month, which rightly upset its black students. First there was the so-called Compton Cookout-a spoof on inner city culture, then a noose discovered in the library and a KKK-style head covering draped over a campus statue. These incidents, along with some swastika discoveries on the UC Davis campus, have led to a UC-wide student reaction.

Not being at UCSD, I may not have all the information available (and I would appreciate any input), but it seems to me that these incidents are shrouded in mystery. There is debate about who actually organized the Compton Cookout with some black comedian character trying to take credit for it. Others have refuted that. If this was actually organized by a bunch of white frat leaders, then they should be identified. (Apparently, the incident was off-campus, but I still think the university could find some jurisdiction over their actions.) If there was involvement by some black(s) in organizing it, I say that white students should have stayed away.

The library noose incident is also shrouded in confusion-at least to me. All I know is that a female student, who identified herself as a minority, came forward and admitted being the person responsible. She was immediately suspended. She then wrote a letter to the campus newspaper apologizing and explaining that it was all a mistake. She and a friend had found a piece of rope lying around and the friend showed her how to tie it into a lasso-then a noose. They then proceeded to the library, where the girl says she inadvertently left it behind when she left.

First of all, that story sounds a little shaky to me, but assuming it is true, why was she suspended?

As for the head covering, I am unaware of anyone having been identified. I could,of course, be behind the news.

It seems to me that one person who could clear this up is the UCSD chancellor, Marye Ann Fox. Who are these frat leaders that allegedly organized the Compton Cookout?

Who is the girl that left the noose in the library?

I don't ask for these names to be released because I wish to see any kind of retribution against them-other than suitable punishment by the university-or justice system if appropriate. The problem is, however, that these incidents have caused an uproar throughout the UC system. As I have noted before, the UCSD students came out and made a public show of support for their black fellow students, which was entirely right to do. Students engaging in racist behavior toward other ethnic groups have no place in the university. Any university. I do have a sneaking suspicion, however, that UCSD is keeping something under wraps. Maybe I am wrong.

I also noted in the comments section attached to the article, that one commenter complained of anti-Asian acts (apparently at Berkeley). That is also troubling and something that is worth looking at too. On many UC campuses including UCI, Asian-American students range from 30-50% of the student body. I remember several years back when some in the UC community were expressing "concern" about this "over-representation". I hope that issue is not coming back.

I have worked at UCI for going on 12 years, and one thing I have always enjoyed is the presence of so many students of Asian descent. I suspect one reason is the large Asian-American population in Irvine and Orange County and that, perhaps, the fact that UCI specializes in physical sciences, engineering and pre-med. I don't know, but as far as I am concerned the whole campus could be Asian-American. I believe in meritocracy, and if Asian-American students are running circles around the rest of us-including whites-then it is up to the rest of us to do better. They are not part of any of the current problems going on in the UC system and nobody should point the finger of blame at them or suggest there should be fewer of them on our campuses.

I still maintain that the overwhelming majority of UC students are not racists. It is true, however, that a tiny minority of haters can create a hostile atmosphere. Those that are racist and act out on those feelings should be kicked out. And it should not matter which group the offenders or victims belong to.