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Statement on the Resolution Concerning When SP-1 and SP-2 were first proposed in July 1995, I begged the Board to await a vote by California voters on what was to become Proposition 209 in November 1996, and not to lead or initiate action. It is not the University's place to start a political movement. But the Board did so act, and a negative perception set in and still persists in the minds of many in the minority and the academic communities. Some totally qualified minority students gain admission but chose not to enroll in part, I believe, because of this perception. I have been calling for the repeal of these two resolutions for a long time, and for the past several months have called upon the Regents to vote again on this issue. In the interest of restoring the University's reputation and sending a signal that the University's doors are opened to all Californians, I am supporting the resolution that Regent Hopkinson will introduce at the May 16th meeting. Simply stated, that resolution will replace, supersede and thus eliminate SP-1 and SP-2. It is a logical extension of our program to reach out to everyone. I am further encouraged that the common ground represented by this resolution will reaffirm the Regents' commitment to K-12 programs that will prepare students of all backgrounds for the opportunity to succeed at the University of California and in life well into the future. # # #
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