Californians shut out of UC

Re “California students feel UC squeeze,” April 19

When I was a student at UC Santa Barbara, I appreciated the diversity both in terms of ethnicity and geography on campus. Still, I was disturbed to read that non-Californians are being sought for enrollment as a way to boost the University of California system’s bottom line.

Enrolling students for this reason may actually detract from campus diversity on a socioeconomic level. If the university system is seeking students who can afford to pay $23,000 extra a year, it is inherently seeking out students of more affluent backgrounds.

It is a proud tradition of the UC system to promote diversity and equal opportunity for students. I hope this tradition will continue through continued enrollment of California residents who may not have the resources to attend schools outside the state.

Mary Huxster

Signal Hill

We — both graduates of UCLA — are outraged that UC officials are seeking higher numbers of out-of-state and foreign students. All qualified California students should be given admission, and if there is any space left over, outsiders should then be considered. The UC system was built by and for California taxpayers. It was not built to make money enrolling out-of-state and foreign students.

When we were students at Pasadena High School, a representative of the UC system told us that if we had good grades and took college preparatory classes, we would be able to attend the university. That promise was kept.

In later years we put four children through UC schools without any financial aid.

We realize there have been many changes since we were young, but the UC system seems to have lost its sense of mission, which is to serve the people of California and their children.

Samuel A. Schiffman and Hanna Peggy Bekey Schiffman

San Marino

When our daughter, a bilingual Californian with a 4.89 GPA and numerous extracurriculars, was rejected by UC Berkeley and wait-listed by UCLA, our hearts sank.

In short order, as an alum of UCLA, I received a newsletter rejoicing in the number of foreign students who had been admitted as well as the number of students who represented the first members of their families to attend college. Reading this left me with the impression that our daughter’s application was never even read after it was determined that she was from California and that her married parents both went to college.

Foreign nationals are likely to take their education right back to their respective countries. Meanwhile, many of the best and the brightest of California are being forced out of the equation.

Fill the UC campuses with deserving California students first, and happily welcome foreign students to fill any spots left open at one of the less popular campuses.

Paul Strange

Santa Barbara

Male high school grads who weigh about 240 pounds, are fast as lightning and love to knock people down will have no problem gaining admissions at some UC campuses.

Dex Ragatz

South Pasadena

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