UCLA problem is lack of qualified applicants

Re “How many blacks are enough?” Opinion, June 21

Has UCLA failed to increase black student matriculation? The answer is a definite yes. Is this due to being lax or because white elitism has always depended on black marginalization? Absolutely not.

Having served on the UCLA dental school admissions committee for 20 years, I can say that we were always trying to have a diverse student body to serve all Californians. We looked for reasons to accept students rather than reject them.

We failed in producing adequate numbers of black dentists (as well as Latino and American Indian), but this was not our policy or desire. We simply did not have enough qualified applicants. The failure exists in our inability to prepare many of our children for a rigorous college application process.

STEVE UNDERWOOD

Fountain Valley

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It should be pointed out that UCLA is the second-most competitive of all the University of California campuses for admissions, and that thousands of qualified applicants are turned away every year, including white students with well over 3.0 grade point averages. I know that UCLA has an aggressive recruitment program for underrepresented students, which include blacks, Latinos and American Indians. Those who enroll at UCLA benefit from support, which includes free tutoring and orientation programs.

California offers other venues for a college education, including transferring from community colleges to the UC system and solid degrees from the Cal State University system.

ROXANE WINKLER

Sherman Oaks

Winkler is a retired UCLA counselor.