Readers React: Not happy with the UC system

To the editor: I was shocked and angered when I read the recent article revealing the present in-state and out-of-state enrollment statistics for the University of California system. (“Odds of UC spot grow longer,” July 3)

As a high-bracketed taxpaying Californian, I find it offensive that my tax dollars, as well as those of all state taxpayers, are going toward subsidizing out-of-state students at the expense of our own students.

The UC system was founded to take care of California’s students, not students from elsewhere. Of course, there have always been a small number of exceptions, but what the statistics have revealed should shock every California parent seeking to send their child to a UC campus.

In my opinion, the UC system has morphed into an elitist out-of-state boarding school for residents of other states and countries.

Shame on the administrators who are in charge.

Dickran Tevrizian, Pasadena

..

To the editor: Could it be that, with the decline in the quality of public secondary education in California over the last 30 years or so, California students are no longer competitive academically with the out-of-staters and international applicants?

Missing from the statistics was mention of the relative SAT or similar scores from the three groups of successful applicants.

Kim Stevens, San Pedro

..

To the editor: Being an international student myself at Long Beach City College, this article was very personal to me.

I am thrilled to read that more international students are being accepted into California universities, since I love coming across other international students and hearing their stories. Where do they come from? How do they like it here? And what struggles and triumphs have they come across?

Perhaps with the increasing number of international students, who pay more for tuition, universities across the nation will have bigger budgets to expand and make room for more domestic students. I only wish that to be the case, because education is priceless and all young adults should be able to attain it.

Irina Nizovtseva, Palos Verdes Estates

..

To the editor: In much of Europe, college is free or low cost for qualified students. Their countries view it as an investment in the future. Isn’t it time the University of California looked at lowering costs instead of telling us it needs more foreign money to pay expenses?

Does this make sense when many students will return to their countries to compete with the United States using what they learned here? At least make it easier for U.S. firms to employ these students when they graduate, because we can use all the engineers and scientists we can get.

Harriet Pollon, Malibu

..

To the editor: For the sake of diversity, the UC system may want to consider admitting more students from the new minority: white kids.

Sandra Canalis, Santa Monica