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Letters to the Editor

Afirmative Action beneficial

To the editor,

This is in response to Tobias Nicholson's letter to the editor in last Wednesday's Wildcat. Mr. Nicholson argued for merit-based admission to institutions of higher education. Obviously Mr. Nicholson did not have to pass an intelligence test to get into the UA because his knowledge of how Affirmative Action works was completely off the mark. First of all, Affirmative Action is not a be-all-end-all answer, but merely an attempt to reverse hundreds of years of racism and sexism that kept many from pursuing an education. Secondly, Affirmative Action does not, and I repeat, does not advocate quotas! This is a common fallacy held by many who oppose this program. Rather, what Affirmative Action does attempt to do is admit a multi-ethnic population from a qualified pool of applicants, not the general population. That's right, Mr. Nicholson, all those that get jobs or educations via Affirmative Action programs were already qualified before applying. Now, sure they may not be the absolute top of their class, and some who are may not get in to college because of their race or sex, but sadly, that's the way things go sometimes. Thus, non-merit based admission does not mean a free ticket for the undeserved.

Brian Mock

Education Graduate Student

Minorities not represented

To the editor,

I would like to take exception to the editorial 'Minorities well-represented in ASUA elections." As a candidate for ASUA Senate, I believe this editorial is proof of my growing concern for the future of the ASUA, as well as a justification for my candidacy. The advocates for so called 'minority representation' are unfortunately, and likely unintentionally, biased against a truly unrepresented portion of our campus community: the working and independent student. While it is rarely discussed by any organization or official, a large percentage of this University are students who rely only upon themselves for support, and, thus, are left with no alternative to work long hours, both at a job and in the classroom, in pursuit of their degree. These students are of every color, creed, religion and persuasion...and, often, are an un-represented minority even within the groups which claim to advocate 'minority rights'!

The students who toil long hours, and face the aggravating conditions at this University, such as limited night classes, minimum student wages, and sub-standard parking, are falling through the cracks without as much as a whimper from our minority advocacy groups. Although your editorial fails to note it, I myself am a minority student...My father was born in Columbia and immigrated to this country, but, more importantly I am a fellow student who works 40 plus hours a week just to keep my head above water....and there are hundreds of students just like me whose voice must be heard. This minority is truly unrepresented. That is the only issue in my ASUA Senate campaign...and I would submit, it is one of the most important of the election.

Gino A. Duran

Political Science & Sociology Junior

Letter writer ignorant

To the editor,

I would like to write regarding Mr. Tobias Nicholson's recent remarks. I would agree with Mr. Justin Moon that Nicholson's remarks are ignorant. The main fault with Mr. Nicholson's recent argument is that it lacks evidence. I would invite him to provide evidence that in fact minority students have standards lowered to get into college, medical school or graduate school.

Sure scholarships are provided to minorities, but scholarships based on merit and hard work. To say that if a person is a minority they can get away with lower standards is insulting of my intelligence as well as my minority colleagues. Additionally, minorities that go on to graduate or medical school are competitive and look just as good on paper as their caucasian counterparts without having their race being consideration. If college standards are being lowered for minorities so colleges can get more minorities into their undergraduate program, it is not doing them any favors. The minority student still needs to remain competitive to go onto graduate or medical school, as well as fulfill the same requirements as their non-minority counterparts to obtain an undergraduate degree. I know for a fact that standards are not lowered for minority students to go onto graduate level education or medical school since students are ranked based on GPA, GRE, MCAT scores, etc. To address your question, Now of that 30% (minority medical students), how many wouldn't have made it to college unless they were part of that minority I would say that they would have all made it into college whether or not they were part of a minority group or not.

Possibly Mr. Nicholson you should consider that being a freshmen history major is not a prerequisite to the broad-based knowledge you seem to believe you possess. Such statements as: Isn't the entire point of high school to get into college? clearly identifies you as naive, as less than one-third of high school graduates go onto college (facts actually researched) and far fewer go on to finish their undergraduate degrees (a point you should consider). Perhaps once you have completed your undergraduate degree and matured, you will not see things with such a narrow-minded perspective. I believe you need to take a little time from your rigorous schedule to research blasé statements before you spew out more unwarranted and obviously prejudiced remarks.

Karin Sandoval

Pharmacology/Toxicology Ph.D. graduate student