The State News editorial board appears surprised that there is a massive discrepancy between graduation rates for black students and white students. Perhaps California can illustrate the problem.

Much like the rest of the country, graduation rates and average grade-point averages of black students at California universities used to be far behind those of white students. After preferential treatment in admissions was banned by a statewide proposition, however, the graduation rates and GPA statistics for black students in California universities have jumped and approached those of white students.

With only minimal changes in overall enrollment of black students, the number of black students graduating with college degrees has increased. This demonstrates that the discrepancy in graduation rates is not the product of an inability to meet the special demands of black students, but a logical result of affirmative action.

Colleges have standards for reasons, not the least of which is to attempt to ensure incoming students are able to be successful.

Creating lower standards for black students, encouraging them to attend colleges that they would not otherwise have been accepted to, only ensures that they face a competitive disadvantage to their classmates.

If affirmative action advocates were truly concerned with the welfare of black students, they would consider the long-term effects of such a short-sighted and condescending policy.

Joseph Blaim
computer science senior