Bush Steps Into Admissions Debate

Our president stands tall again in his opposition to the University of Michigan’s affirmative action program (Jan 16). We white guys, after more than 200 years of oppression, prejudice and lack of opportunity, finally have someone with the courage to stand up for us. And for you liberal cynics out there, who I know will be whining about this: I can tell from looking into President Bush’s eyes that had he only known he was a third-generation “Yale legacy” he would have never attended that school.

Owen Keavney

Claremont

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Your headline, “Bush Opposes Diversity Policy at University,” is inconsistent with the Bush quote in the article that states, “I strongly support diversity of all kinds, including racial diversity in higher education.” Bush and conservatives are not opposed to diversity but to quota systems at tax-supported institutions of higher learning.

Edwin Gauld

Los Angeles

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Bush’s attack on the admissions procedures for the UM Law School is ignoble and divisive. A school dedicated to the advancement of minorities long before it was in vogue to do so, the UM Law School is the alma mater of such great black federal jurists as Amalya Kearse of the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals and Harry Edwards, former chief judge of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The 6th Circuit has ruled that “the law school’s consideration of race and ethnicity does not use quotas.” Rather, UM considers race and ethnicity, as well as many other factors, including special talents, community service and alumni ties to the school. The legal system would have much more diversity, and indeed compassion and understanding, if the pool of potential lawyer candidates at top schools had a larger number of admittees from disadvantaged backgrounds than the 4% or so who would be selected solely by the GPA and LSAT numbers. A true meritocracy should consider where you have started as well as where you have reached.

David W. Wiechert

Capistrano Beach