Jessica Lee

Focused Excellence has many students freaked out. The future of the three Arizona universities is currently in the molding stages, as the presidents, provosts and regents continue twisting and sculpting the new vision of the roles of the higher education facilities.

Ambiguous terminology such as "elite" and "excellence" are being tossed into UA campus conversation, often without much thought. Talks about the process and the path toward this new vision of the UA seem to be floating atop administrative levels, trickling down to faculty and staff.

But rarely do we hear students outspoken about the future of the UA.

Until now. The UA chapter of Movimiento Estudiantil de Chicanos de Aztl‡n (MEChA) is very worried. As the most outspoken Chicano activist group on campus, they are troubled that "elite" means "rich kids only" and "excellence" implies a trade-off for diversity.

They have the right to be concerned. Historically, universities were places white men with wealthy daddies attended to obtain an education based heavily in the classics. And in the not-so-distant past, Mexican-Americans and other minorities were pounding on administration doors demanding to be given a chance.

After all, they were just as smart.

As Chicano activism remains strong, students are demanding questions that Provost George Davis' memo failed to answer. "What is President Likins' definition of diversity?" wonders MEChA co-director Veronica Martinez. "The UA as a land grant university means that this institution must assure the welfare of Arizona's disadvantaged students," Martinez stressed. "Raising tuition without greatly emphasizing financial aid will exclude many working-class students."

It is not a race thing, rather a class thing.

MEChA demands to know how "focused excellence" will bring UA up in national ratings where we rank 45 in financial aid rewards, 49 in tuition expenses and a D-minus in affordability. Jacking tuition and raising admission standards are shallow answers when students are currently balancing two jobs with a full-time school load.

President Likins cannot take all the blame. He is burdened with managing morale among faculty and staff, while stuffing the pockets of the Arizona Legislature, which is demanding a huge chunk of cash due to extending budget cuts. "UA has to give back $33 million to the state. Where in the hell am I going to get that?" Likins passionately pleaded in a recent interview. "If we lose key faculty, we will lose decades of quality," he continued.

Tough times call for some tough decisions. And President Likins knows that he is the guy that is bound to make some enemies. An integral part of "focused excellence" is the raising of admission standards. "The part that's so readily accepted is the excellence, not the focus," mentioned Provost George Davis in the Oct. 9 Wildcat. Implied between the lines is an admission process described by Likins as "more rigorous and thoughtful."

The academic index could be more heavily weighed in the student selection, instead of just national test scores and high school GPA. Likins admitted that an admissions process that values individuality could be good step. It would a process similar to that of many private schools. But the process must be sold to the Arizona Board of Regents, who regulate the admissions methodology.

Martinez is just one of many who worries how higher admission standards will affect minority students. "It is not clear how Likins will integrate multiracial, multiethnic, and multiculturalism into the admission process," she emphasized. Kristian Ramos, a member of Juntos ÷ a collection of 15 Latino organizations that MEChA is associated with ÷ agrees. "It is important to consider the public, especially the people of Tucson. By raising standards, many locals might not be able to get into the UA."

Further challenging Likins, Ramos added, "Likins has to listen to us, but how realistic is it that he will truly listen?"

For those of us who have had the chance to speak one-on-one with Likins, it is evident that he is passionate about preserving campus diversity. "'Excellence' cannot happen if a university has a homogeneous body," he stressed. "The world is based on diversity, and it is my job to prepare the next generation for that world."

President Likins' needs to extend this message to the minority and working class student body. It is time for him and Provost Davis to clear the confusion not in "excellence" but in "process." This message cannot fall through the cracks of bureaucracy and red-tape regent officialdom.

Martinez, Ramos and I will not let diversity be sacrificed.