<p>Just wondering if any of you at UCLA read this article:
<a href="http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/articles.asp?id=38302%5B/url%5D">http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/articles.asp?id=38302</a></p>
<p>A modest proposal for an immodest proposition
By Jed Levine
DAILY BRUIN CONTRIBUTOR
<a href="mailto:jlevine@media.ucla.edu">jlevine@media.ucla.edu</a></p>
<p>Over a hundred students gathered in Meyerhoff Park last week to express discontent with the University of California admissions policy.</p>
<p>Protestors chanted such slogans as, "UC Regents, I see racists," and criticized UCLA for not doing enough to increase diversity.</p>
<p>But they missed the point entirely.</p>
<p>Why focus on the "racist" UC Board of Regents? Why go after something so cliche as "The Man"?</p>
<p>I empathize with members of the Black Student Union and MEChA who spoke at the rally. As a fellow underrepresented minority at UCLA, I agree that it's hard to find other white people I can identify with on a campus that feels more like Taipei than L.A.</p>
<p>Yes, white people are an underrepresented minority here at UCLA; while they make up 44 percent of the California population, white students only constitute 34 percent of UCLA's student population.</p>
<p>ARIEL ALTER/daily bruin</p>
<p>Asian-Americans, on the other hand, make up only 12 percent of the state of California and 38 percent of UCLA students.</p>
<p>That's 300 percent over-representation: Welcome to UCLAsian.</p>
<p>I agree with the chair of MEChA that the UC Regents are using unfair means to admit UC students. Using grades and test scores as a measure of academic success is clearly just a way to show preference to Asian-American students, who are better at both, and thus promote the status quo.</p>
<p>Why else would they focus on such erroneous admissions criteria as grades and test scores?</p>
<p>What is this, an academic institution? I certainly hope not.</p>
<p>Fortunately, last week's rally has given us a chance to dwell on the critical topic of affirmative action the practice of using race in university admissions.</p>
<p>Some might point to socio-economic inequality and the poor state of California's inner-city schools as key parts of the larger problem, and that low numbers of white, black and Latino students are simply a symptom of these larger issues.</p>
<p>By fixing these inequalities, they say, we can change the dynamics of our society and increase minority enrollment.</p>
<p>But these people are wrong. Affirmative action makes sense, because, as any pre-med will tell you, treat the symptom, not the disease.</p>
<p>How can we fix this gross inequality and make sure that UCLA better reflects the racial makeup of California? How can we curb the Asian invasion?</p>
<p>Considering that Proposition 209, passed by California voters in 1996, effectively banned any form of affirmative action at the UC, you might think this would be a tough feat.</p>
<p>According to speakers at last week's rally, the only thing standing in our way aside from Prop. 209 is those racists running this sham of a social experiment that we call the University of California.</p>
<p>Still, we have an excellent opportunity to reform the admissions process to benefit underrepresented minorities without violating Prop. 209 and directly using race.</p>
<p>For example, we could easily decipher potential Asian-American applicants by checking what student groups they are involved in, such as Asian cultural organizations or Key Club.</p>
<p>I hear some liberal arts colleges accept head shots from applicants, and I think a similar program at UCLA would be monumentally successful at helping us weed out the young Maos and Kim Jongs from potential Mandelas, Lincolns and Estefans.</p>
<p>By keeping the Asian-American student numbers under control and more accurate to their representation in California, we can free up 26 percent of the student body for members of underrepresented groups.</p>
<p>The result is a win-win situation: fewer rolling backpacks, more diversity.</p>
<p>These overflow Asians could then be funneled into a new UC campus where they can be free to explore their identities. Indeed the UC system has a brand new campus that fits the bill perfectly.</p>
<p>Say hello to the UC Merced Pandas.</p>
<p>Some might accuse the BSU and MEChA of wasting their time kicking a dead horse by supporting an idea that California voters shot down in 1996 and have no intention of voting back again.</p>
<p>But I think this problem is more pertinent than ever, and it's time to wake up and smell the bamboo. </p>
<hr>
<p>WTH.</p>