Kokua Line
Kokua Line
UH backs
affirmative action
but without
a points systemQuestion: Would it be possible for you to find out what the policies of the University of Hawaii are concerning the enrollment of a "diverse" population?
Hawaii is a place that is very ethnically diverse, and I wonder what, if any, role race and/or ethnicity play in the selection of students. I was just wondering how it all played out here while there is so much discussion about the University of Michigan's points policy.
Answer: The University of Hawaii has identified diversity as "one of our top priorities," and the UH is "an affirmative action institution," says Amefil "Amy" Agbayani, director of Student Equity, Excellence and Diversity at UH-Manoa.
"We believe the Bakke case justifies efforts to increase the number of underrepresented ethnic minorities," she said, emphasizing the university does "follow those requirements" that race or ethnicity not be the only factor in determining admission.
(Allen Bakke sued the University of California, alleging reverse discrimination because he is white. He was denied admission twice to the University of California-Davis medical school although his grade-point average was higher than many minority applicants who were admitted. In 1978, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that race could be a factor in admissions to achieve a diverse enrollment, but that the use of quotas in affirmative action programs was not permissible. Bakke was subsequently admitted to the school and graduated in 1994.)
Agbayani said the UH does not employ a points system, as does the University of Michigan.
Michigan officials say their system does comply with the Bakke case and is not based on quotas. Under its system, race and ethnicity are among many factors considered in admissions.
Twenty points may be given if an applicant is part of an underrepresented minority, is socioeconomically disadvantaged or from a high school that serves predominately minority students, is in athletics, or at the provost's discretion. By comparison, 120 points are given for academic factors, for a total of 150 possible points.
The Bush administration has called Michigan's points policy unconstitutional, saying it favors certain racial groups.
Agbayani said that because the UH community colleges generally have an open door policy, there really is no need for affirmative action policies there.
At UH-Manoa, however, Filipino, Hawaiian, Samoan, African American, Hispanic and Southeast Asian students have been identified as underrepresented minorities by comparing their numbers to the general school age population.
For example, Hawaiians make up 27 percent of Hawaii's public school enrollment, but only 10 percent at Manoa, while the percentages for Filipino students are 19 and 9 respectively, Agbayani said.
Still, except for one 30-year-old program -- College Opportunities -- targeting about 100 "disadvantaged" students a year, "we do not have a special affirmative action admissions policy," she said, although UH believes programs to increase the number of underrepresented groups are necessary. "So we're watching the Michigan case," she said.
In College Opportunities, students are selected following interviews and tests, then go through an intensive summer enrichment program. If they pass that, they are eligible for admission. The criteria for selection includes, but is not limited to, being a member of an underrepresented minority, Agbayani said.
The UH law and medical schools also "have very limited programs for disadvantaged students and ethnicity is one of many criteria" considered, she said.
Mainly, UH has a number of outreach programs to try to prepare students in underrepresented groups for college, including tutoring, and workshops for students and parents on financial aid opportunities and admission requirements, Agbayani said.
There also are programs that go to the public schools, offering tutoring and outreach, she said.
Q: Is there any type of regulation as far as how many exits drive-through lanes, such as at fast-food restaurants, should have? I found myself trapped in a drive-through area where a cashier was having trouble with two cars in front of me.
Because there was a car in back of me, I was stuck in line for 15 minutes with nowhere to go. The cement curb prevented me from getting out of the lane. Are they required to have an area to exit before you place an order?
A: Under the city's building codes, no. There is no requirement to have more than one exit from a drive-through lane.
However, there must be another exit somewhere else on the property, so that the drive-through lane is not the only way for customers to enter and leave, explained an official with the city building division.
The real dirt on fire ants
As someone raised in Washington State, who has lived with red imported fire ants in Louisiana for 27 years, I just want to let people know we definitely are able to use our back yards and parks (Kokua Line, Jan. 29). We have to control fire ants, just like mosquitoes, rats, etc., and are just careful around mounds of dirt -- ant nests.I find the mosquitoes around our house in Hawaiian Paradise Park on the Big Island to be more of a problem when I come to do maintenance work.
I hope Hawaii never gets red imported fire ants, since I would really like to leave them behind when we retire to the Big Island. I enjoy reading your column and keeping up with some of what is going on in Hawaii. -- H. Allen Sylvester, Baton Rouge.
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