Although a federal judge issued a restraining order on Nov. 27 barring Gov. Pete Wilson and Attorney General Dan Lungren from enforcing Proposition 209, the California State University system is already taking action in preparation of implementation.
One of the steps taken by the CSU system is the merger of the CSU Scholarship Program for Hispanic Students and the CSU Scholarship Program for African-American Students into one program. The new fund will be called the CSU Scholarship Program for Future Scholars, according to a letter to CSU presidents from Peter S. Hoff, senior vice chancellor of academic affairs to the CSU.
“This program seeks to increase the college participation rate of students who are disadvantaged because of their economic, educational or environmental background,” Hoff stated in the letter. “Indicators of educational disadvantages include little or no education in family beyond elementary or secondary school, first in family to attend, low socioeconomic level of school population or low ranking of school on statewide tests.”
Environmental disadvantages may include migrant fami-
ly patterns and rural isolation, residence in poverty areas or a high percentage of community receiving public assistance.
An additional $220,000 in lottery funds has been approved by the chancellor for the new combined and expanded program.
As for how the passage of the proposition will affect San Diego State University directly, President Stephen Weber had the following to say in a letter to faculty and staff:
“We will continue to build the kind of university all our students need if they are to assume positions of leadership and responsibility in the 21st Century,” Weber said in the letter. “This increasingly diverse society is the world in which our students will live and work. … We will continue to provide the educational environment and experiences inside and outside the classroom for our students to grow and mature.”
Weber went on to cite a study in which “almost 80 percent of students said they thought a diversity course should be a requirement. I interpret that as a clear and encouraging message and, once again, evidence that our students realize the importance of diversity as a vital part of their education.”
Gus Chavez, SDSU’s director of the Extended Opportunities Program and Ethnic Affairs, said, “The chancellor has determined that SDSU will not be affected (much by Proposition 209). Plus, given what has happened in Sacramento, in particular the change in leadership in the Assembly, (SDSU) shouldn’t be affected too much.”
Opponents of the proposition also known as the California Civil Rights Initiative argue that the proposition violates constitutional guarantees of equal protection and overrules federal authority by bypassing federal discrimination policies.
Proposition 209 was passed with a 54 percent majority by California voters on Nov. 5. The measure bars preferential treatment on the basis of race, ethnicity or sex by the state in hiring, education and contracting.
