Platform : ‘A Diversified Student Body Is the Only Way to Dispel Stereotypes’

Affirmative action is under attack. UCLA Chancellor Charles Young is among those who say that race- and gender-based preferences are both fair and still much-needed. He has launched a campaign on campus to win support for the school’s affirmative-action policies. LORENZA MUNOZ talked with UCLA students for their views on the issue. QUYNH NGUYEN

21, external assistant director of Asian Pacific Coalition

The attack on affirmative action is misdirected. If there should be any criticism, it should be that racism, sexism and discrimination have not been dealt with in our society. Yet we don’t see that in the discourse.

Diversity in terms of numbers means very little. The whole idea of having representatives of different groups, women and people of color is to put them in places to facilitate change within institutional structures.

When you have a diverse student body that is more in touch with the community and its needs, those students will call for and demand changes. If the chancellor is so gung-ho about protecting diversity, I would hope that he’s open as well to diversifying the curriculum and faculty.

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MATEA GOLD

20, Editor, Daily Bruin newspaper

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The chancellor should take strong action and lead on this issue. Especially in a post-Proposition 187 environment, campus and community leaders need to speak out. We need to have an educated dialogue on these programs.

A diversified student body is the only way to dispel stereotypes that people might have.

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ROB GREENHALGH

21, student body president

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It is very encouraging to see Young, who is so well-respected, taking a very strong stand on affirmative action. He realizes how over the last 26 years, affirmative action has helped this university.

Diversity is what distinguishes UCLA from many other universities. Having a diverse campus creates an ability (among students) to interact with people of different backgrounds. That is not just an asset, but necessary in a rapidly changing world.

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J. JIONI PALMER

19, political action coordinator, African Student Union

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Affirmative action today has come to mean diversity. Diversity is good but it is not the original intent or purpose of affirmative action. Affirmative action was created to ensure equal opportunity, advancement and prevent discrimination against historically underrepresented peoples.

Diversity is good because it allows people with different experiences and realities to come together and interact. At best, it promotes understanding. At worst, it can create hostility. That arises without diversity in the curriculum.

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JAIME MESTAZ

21, history/Chicano studies major

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On this campus, diversity is very important because you get to see what America’s future work force (will look like): people of many cultures and backgrounds.

The chancellor is saying what the majority of the people at this school would like him to say. He has continuously gone against funding for programs such as Chicano studies and other minority courses, but he’s realized that many people at this school support affirmative action.

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CARLA MACKAUF

21, dance major

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Diversity is important because part of an education is learning what is outside of your own culture or nationality. As a freshman, I lived in the dorms with three Korean roommates. That broadened my outlook on school, Los Angeles and everything. I learned things from them and they learned things from me.