Occidental College

“March Toward Multiethnic Goal Remakes Occidental” (Nov. 20) refers to numerous Occidental College alumni who “want Occidental to remain exactly as they remember it.” I have recently been vice president of Occidental’s Alumni Assn. and know that this characterization is grossly inaccurate.

There have been widespread complaints by alumni that ethnic diversity has been achieved much too rapidly as a result of lowering the admissions and financial aid requirements for minority applicants. In the eyes of many alumni, the quality of education has declined and excessive financial aid expenditures have contributed to substantial financial deficits in each of the last four years.

Although late in coming, badly needed changes have been made in the admissions and financial aid programs. SAT scores of this year’s incoming freshman class improved by 60 points; and, earlier this year the trustees mandated a $3-million annual reduction in expenditures and a $1-million improvement in revenues to produce a balanced budget.

Occidental alumni support the pursuit of ethnic diversity but feel strongly that the college’s quality and financial integrity must not be compromised in the future as they have been in the past five years.

HARRY M. GAGE

Pasadena