Admissions standards are hard to accept

Re “Blacks May Gain as UCLA Moves to Alter Admissions,” Sept. 7

The Times cites many holistic changes that might eventually contribute to making the university’s population look more like the population that supports it through taxes. Even more important would be making UCLA the “local UC” for students who live in the Los Angeles area. In other words, students who achieve the UC requirements, but do not attain the UCLA requirements, are often selected by other UC schools such as Santa Barbara or Riverside, to name two near here. These students do not have the option of continuing to live with parents (to save money). They either must exchange their UC acceptance for a California State University or spend money many don’t have to live on campus at a distant UC.

Wouldn’t it be better to serve the local students at UCLA and, at the same time, produce a university population that reflects the diversity of the community in which it lies?

STEPHEN WILLIAMS

College Counselor

Eagle Rock High School

Los Angeles

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Regarding the drop in black enrollment, I say establish colorblind acceptance criteria and let the prospective students figure out how to meet them.

Affirmative action has only depreciated the value of a UCLA degree for anyone who may have been under-qualified but accepted because of minority status. It is right to draw applications from diverse backgrounds, but it is wrong to deny more qualified applicants admission.

RICHARD WILLIAMS

La Canada Flintridge