Yes, affirmative action is flawed, but it's the fault of universities which fail to promote diversity.

A study done by K. Edward Renner that appeared in the American Association of University Professors' magazine showed minorities prefer universities that have a large population of minorities.

The study involved only 30 universities, making up only a tiny percentage of colleges across the nation.

Often a student, whether a minority or coming from a town that is distinctly inhabited by one race, will attend a university that has a large population similar to that student.

And the whole idea of affirmative action is to level racial barriers. Universities that fell behind in attracting minorities years ago are forced to make up for it by aggressively recruiting minority students through affirmative action.

But schools shouldn't separate those students upon arrival. Affirmative action wasn't created so universities could enroll minority students and then isolate them on campus.

Many universities believe by utilizing segregation, students will feel more comfortable in their separate environments. Yet, the schools fail to realize what they are doing is limiting students from experiencing culture.

Students need to stretch their comfort zones. That's what college and the real world are about. People need to be able to relate to each other, regardless of race.

Programs to help students mesh with other races are available at most universities and schools need to take the first step in advertising these opportunities to students, letting them know the programs are there to help and not to segregate students.

Affirmative action can work, but the segregation that appears at universities has to be remedied. Students should feel comfortable in class and socially on the weekends, regardless of race.