UC Minority Admissions

Re “UC, Take Down the ‘Not Wanted’ Signs,” Commentary Jan. 31: Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante noted that despite a 30% increase in admission offers to top minority students at UC medical schools, enrollment of those students dropped 12.5%. Bustamante suggests that the drop in enrollment is due to the students’ perception that they are “not wanted.”

Would a student apply for admission if he did not intend to enroll if admitted? Surely, the failure to enroll must be because of admissions to more prestigious schools, scholarships, etc. In my view, the increase in admissions offers shows that equal access is being achieved notwithstanding the UC anti-affirmative action policies.

STUART SHELBY

Santa Monica

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In his defense of affirmative action for higher education, Bustamante forgot to mention one point that has usually and sadly been neglected by the program’s advocates--equality of opportunity. When that is pursued, and not racial, ethnic and sexual statistics, then the program will truly achieve its goal of quality education for all.

PETER M. SMALL

Placentia

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If affirmative action is banned at UC schools, then why are we still counting?

JOHN FISHER

Los Angeles