By Timothy Kudo
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Contrary to some students’ demands and regental rhetoric,
the proposal to repeal SP-1 and 2 will not come before the UC Board
of Regents at its March meeting.
The policies, which ended the use of affirmative action in
admissions and hiring throughout the university but are superseded
by state law banning the same, may come up at the May meeting, said
Regent William Bagley.
“We want a significant majority. You don’t want to
prevail by 11-10, and there are a few votes still to be garnered,
and there are still vacancies,” said Bagley, who is one of
the main proponents of repealing SP-1.
“If we were to wait just a few months we would
significantly increase the prevailing majority,” he said.
“That may not be what the students … want right now but
in the long run, it’s going to have a much better effect
nationwide,” Bagley continued.
Student Regent Justin Fong had said he hoped the issue would
come up by the March meeting. He could not immediately be reached
for comment for this article.
Any regent can place items on the agenda given sufficient notice
“just by letting the Office of the President know,”
said Anne Shaw, associate secretary of the regents.
On Thursday the Affirmative Action Coalition, an organization
comprised of student groups throughout the UC system, called on the
regents to repeal the measures. The group is planning massive
system-wide protests at the March 14-15 regents meeting at
UCLA.
“On March 14th, the regents have the opportunity to take
down the “˜Not Wanted’ signs,” UCLA African
Student Union Chair Karren Lane said Thursday.
The board passed SP-1 14-10 in 1995 amid protests at every level
of the university, from students to faculty to administrators.
A year later, California voters passed Proposition 209, a voter
initiative called the “California Civil Rights
Initiative.” Regent Ward Connerly worked to put the measure,
which ended the use of affirmative action throughout the state, on
the ballot.
Both measures didn’t affect the UC until the incoming
class of 1998 when there were drastic drops in the number of
underrepresented minorities admitted.
Even if the regents’ policies were repealed, Proposition
209 would continue to ban affirmative action in the university. But
regents have said the symbolic significance of a repeal would merit
action and may even lead to minority admissions increasing because
of a feeling that the university is more welcoming to
underrepresented populations.
Bagley said he believes the vote will come up for the May
meeting, which will be held at UC San Francisco.
“It shall be done, thy will shall be done,” Bagley
said.