By KC Lampa
As of Jan. 7, the University of California system reported an enrollment of over 99,000 Asian students.
As an Asian American student, this makes me proud, but I also recognize not all racial groups have the same level of representation in higher education.
Asian students now make up more than 33% of total enrollment across UC campuses. Meanwhile, Latinx, Black, Native American and Pacific Islander students combined make up less than 30%.
On Feb. 3, a lawsuit was filed against the University of California, accusing the university system of illegally considering race in its admissions process.
According to KTLA, this lawsuit, filed by Students Against Racial Discrimination, claims the UC system is giving preference to “non-Asian racial minorities.”
Under Proposition 209, passed in 1996, California law prohibits public universities from considering race in admissions.
This measure was designed to prevent preferential treatment based on “race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin.”
Its passage led to a decline in affirmative action, limiting efforts to address disparities in education and employment.
But why is it seen as a problem to give underrepresented communities the representation they deserve?
The answer: It is not. But the system wants people to believe it is.
Not the education system — but racism, which is a system in itself.
Historically, racism has shaped institutions, including education.
Long before minority students began to apply to college, systemic barriers denied marginalized groups from accessing the same resources as their white peers.
“The pathway to college is discriminatory,” Branson Boykins, a professor in Advanced Studies in Education and Counseling, said. “To disrupt the discrimination and racism that is prevalent in our society, you need intentional actions.
“You can’t believe that good people will do good things and it’ll just work itself out. You have to have intentional anti-racist actions to disrupt the system,” he said.
Change doesn’t happen on its own. It takes action.
Fighting discrimination requires consistent effort — not just when justice movements are at their peak.
To increase diversity, understanding the realities of racial and social justice issues, both historically and today, is essential because society reflects them so clearly.
In an email to the Current, Lindsay Pérez Huber, a professor in the Equity, Education and Social Justice master’s program, wrote education institutions have historically excluded or discriminated against marginalized students, particularly Black, Latinx and Indigenous students.
However, Pérez Huber said, “Students from diverse backgrounds enrich a college campus community, making possible opportunities to connect with people different from you, expanding our understanding of different groups, and different world views.”
Diversity broadens perspectives, fosters connections and builds pathways toward equity, but none of that happens without action.
Everyone has a role to play in changing the system — even in little ways.
Signing petitions, donating to equity-focused organizations and speaking up online can all help.
Supporting cultural events, celebrating heritage months on campus, or volunteering for groups like Leadership Long Beach, which hosts Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, can also contribute to meaningful change.
The first step toward change starts now.
