Professor Protests Over Black Admissions at U.C.L.A.

This is ridiculous. I wonder if he's ever thought to check the files and qualifications of incoming white students who are children of alumni.

-Patricia

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: August 30, 2008

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, resigned from an admissions committee Thursday, saying he suspected officials were cheating to illegally admit more black students but have blocked access to data that would prove it.

The professor, Tim Groseclose, who teaches political science classes, said he was concerned because “applicants often reveal their own race in the essay portion of the application,” according to an article in The Orange County Register. California’s public universities are banned from using race as an admissions criterion.

University officials said that admissions evaluators do not see the names, race or ethnicity of applicants and that they are following the law. Of the freshmen that will start classes next month, 235 students are black, or about 5 percent of the class. Two years ago, just 96 African-American freshman enrolled.

Professor Groseclose said he wanted to use statistical analysis to examine whether students were being admitted by race. He asked for 1,000 student files, including essays, with the names removed, which officials refused because of privacy issues.

Professor Groseclose said he supports offering preferences to recruit and admit more black students.