November 6, 1996
With the passage of Proposition 209, the citizens of California have affirmed the Board of Regents' July 1995 decision to end the use of
race, ethnicity, and gender in the University of California's admissions, employment, and contracting practices.
When The Regents made their decision over a year ago, they underscored their strong and enduring commitment to diversity. They also made clear their conviction that the University can reflect the rich diversity of California's population without preferences, and called for the creation of an Outreach Task Force to help us to do so. We will need to look to new ways of accomplishing this goal--through mentoring, outreach, and other methods. Most important of all is the need to work with the K-12 schools.
This challenge will require the creativity and ingenuity of everyone in the University community -- Regents, administration, faculty, students, and staff. My colleagues and I on the Board of Regents are convinced that we can create a future for California in which all of our students are given the educational opportunity and preparation they must have to succeed. We will work with President Atkinson, the Chancellors, and everyone who cares about education in our state to see that this future arrives as soon as possible.