Adande’s Column Gets Him No Props

The first thought I had while reading J.A. Adande’s column, “Color Scheme Is a Bit Distorted (Friday, Oct. 2),” was that it ran in the wrong section of the newspaper. Mr. Adande is a sports columnist, but this was not a sports column. My second thought was this--someone should tell Mr. Adande that the best person, whether white, black, yellow or purple, should be admitted to a college or get that key job opportunity. They should not be given preferential treatment just because they happen to be white, black, yellow or purple. Now, can we get back to sports?

ART WILSON

Covina

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Mr. Adande, enough is enough! UCLA is, without a doubt, an ethnically diverse school. Stop playing the black race card so flagrantly! Just because the “color scheme” does not meet your opinion of acceptability, you have to play the race card. Proposition 209 serves an extremely important purpose--let everybody be judged not by race, sex, etc., but by ability. If a person meets the standards of entrance for a school, then admit him/her. If not, then don’t admit him/her. Stop complaining!

TOMMY CHENG

Torrance

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Once again, Prop. 209 has been turned upside down by one of your writers. J.A. Adande bemoans the fact that so few African American males attend UCLA, and those that do are only admitted because of athletic prowess, not classroom skills. He continues to say that one-third (roughly 1,400) of the incoming freshmen at UCLA this year are of Asian American descent. Obviously, this proves that minorities can make it into UCLA regardless of the status of Prop. 209. The competition that really matters takes place in the high school classroom, not on the playing field, and for Adande to imply otherwise does a disservice to all of those who truly desire a higher education.

TODD CARLSON

Los Angeles