‘Multiracial' Could Be Option on UC Applications

The UC Board of Regents will discuss adding a multiracial check box on the UC application form at its meeting next week, challenging federal guidelines that allow students to identify with only one ethnicity.

The proposal from Regent Ward Connerly outlines a system in which multiracial students would choose one all-inclusive multiracial check box regardless of their ethnic composition.

"Connerly's rationale is that the demographics of the state of California have changed so much that there needs to be new specification in terms of recording ethnic data," said UC spokesperson Abby Lunardini. Connerly was not available for comment yesterday.

Connerly's proposal addresses the complex issue of tabulating the data on undergraduate student applicants of multiracial backgrounds, Lunardini said.

Although seniors applying for admissions can check multiple ethnic boxes-an option added in 1990-the U.S. Department of Education only accepts one ethnicity in their data, leaving some unsure about how to classify multiracial applicants.

"Checking multiple boxes was an option added because people of mixed ethnicities just didn't know what to check," Lunardini said.

But federally funded educational institutions are instructed not to use multiracial check boxes to comply with the national guidelines, Lunardini said.

The education department may reform the data collection system, however, allowing applicants to identify with more than one race without checking a generic multiracial box.

Yet Connerly's history as a staunch affirmative action opponent may affect the way his proposal is received. The UC regent wrote the failed Proposition 54, which would have banned the collection of racial and ethnic data by state agencies. He was also a leading supporter of Proposition 209, which ended affirmative action in the California public school system.

"I disagree with Connerly's proposed method of collecting racial data," said Student Regent Matt Murray, "The most appropriate way to address this issue is to let people check off all boxes that apply."

Others fear offering a multi-ethnic box could mask the ethnic composition of the applying class.

"Having a multiracial box camouflages the issues that different cultural groups are facing," said Graduate Assembly President Jessica Quindel.

As of now, opposition to the proposal seems premature and the check box proposition is not up for a vote next week, just a discussion.

"I would be surprised if there would be a big push among the regents to pass a multiracial check box," Murray said. "But I would expect the regents to have a reasonable discussion."

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