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El Laberinto, 1971-1987

the school's affirmative action program.
"The only thing the Bakke decision did say, in fact, is that the element of race cannot be used as the sole determinant in judging who qualifies," Acuna said. "Criteria will change, but we can live with that. Various systems of identifying who qualifies for these special admissions programs can be utilized without even mentioning race," he said.
As an example, Acuna suggested a points system in which an applicant would receive so many points for the area in which she-he grew up, bilingualism, financial need and grades, among others. These programs would attract not only minorities,but students of all backgrounds who may benefit from admissions policies that do not emphasize grades and class standing, he said.
"If this practice expands the ethnic composition of special admissions programs we should not see it as a demise, but rather a broadening of opportunities to the nontraditional student, Acuna said.
Acuna began his discussion of special admissions programs with a naration of the immigrant experience in America. Contrasting the social factors surrounding the arrival of the "old Immigrants" (central Europe and the British Commonwealth) to those of "newer immigrants" (the Mediterranean area, Latin America and Asia), Acuna emphasized the role of multinational corporations.
"The older immigrants though at first economically disadvantaged, had the opportunity of vertical mobility. The small business was a viable alternative,and the large corporations we have now were only beginning to set up their factories and markets," Acuna said.
Upon arrival the newer immigrant was faced with a restricting economy, not an expanding one, Acuna said. "Various legislation and the growth of unions left the new immigrant without a frontier in which to participate. They became inconsequential to the corporations who discovered the vast pool of foreign workers," he said.
Acuna defended the compensatory nature of special admissions programs by pointing out the role of the Fourteenth Amendment in the controversy. In the controversy. In the past, he said, the amendment served to compel schools to integrate, but is new used to forbid schools that voluntarily do just that. "Before special admissions programs, things were bad (for minorities)," he said. "The changes helped, but now we are wiping out that small amount of progress.
"Institutions have always used quotas in this country," he continued. "Since the earliest immigration laws, concessions have been made to the presence of minorities. But always, only in an assimilable number."
According to Acuna, the academic institutions, which serve special interests, are not confronted with a truly representative number of minorities seeking opportunities for higher learning. The implications seem monumental to individuals who have naturally accepted educational opportunities as "given" in this society, he said. 
"The Bakke case, and others like it, are concerned with the lowering of standards." What about the question of delivery of services due?" Acuna noted.

The Bakke Decision is sending many University administrators scrambling because of the possibilities of legal suits against their Affirmative Action Programs. Even at the University of Iowa the Bakke case's impact is being felt. It is being felt primarily through job title and job description changes. for example Al Seals has indicated that in the near future his title of Minority  Career Advisor/Coordinator will be changed to Career Advisor Specialist. His job will encompass more responsibilities also. A similar title change is happening within the SSS Office concerning Ray Leal's staff position as Assistant Director of Chicano and Native American Programs.

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the school's affirmative action program. "The only thing the Bakke decision did say, in fact, is that the element of race cannot be used as the sole determinant in judging who qualifies," Acuna said. "Criteria will change, but we can live with that. Various systems of identifying who qualifies for these special admissions programs can be utilized without even mentioning race," he said. As an example, Acuna suggested a points system in which an applicant would receive so many points for the area in which she-he grew up, bilingualism, financial need and grades, among others. These programs would attract not only minorities,but students of all backgrounds who may benefit from admissions policies that do not emphasize grades and class standing, he said. "If this practice expands the ethnic composition of special admissions programs we should not see it as a demise, but rather a broadening of opportunities to the nontraditional student, Acuna said. Acuna began his discussion of special admissions programs with a naration of the immigrant experience in America. Contrasting the social factors surrounding the arrival of the "old Immigrants" (central Europe and the British Commonwealth) to those of "newer immigrants" (the Mediterranean area, Latin America and Asia), Acuna emphasized the role of multinational corporations. "The older immigrants though at first economically disadvantaged, had the opportunity of vertical mobility. The small business was a viable alternative,and the large corporations we have now were only beginning to set up their factories and markets," Acuna said. Upon arrival the newer immigrant was faced with a restricting economy, not an expanding one, Acuna said. "Various legislation and the growth of unions left the new immigrant without a frontier in which to participate. They became inconsequential to the corporations who discovered the vast pool of foreign workers," he said. Acuna defended the compensatory nature of special admissions programs by pointing out the role of the Fourteenth Amendment in the controversy. In the controversy. In the past, he said, the amendment served to compel schools to integrate, but is new used to forbid schools that voluntarily do just that. "Before special admissions programs, things were bad (for minorities)," he said. "The changes helped, but now we are wiping out that small amount of progress. "Institutions have always used quotas in this country," he continued. "Since the earliest immigration laws, concessions have been made to the presence of minorities. But always, only in an assimilable number." According to Acuna, the academic institutions, which serve special interests, are not confronted with a truly representative number of minorities seeking opportunities for higher learning. The implications seem monumental to individuals who have naturally accepted educational opportunities as "given" in this society, he said. "The Bakke case, and others like it, are concerned with the lowering of standards." What about the question of delivery of services due?" Acuna noted. The Bakke Decision is sending many University administrators scrambling because of the possibilities of legal suits against their Affirmative Action Programs. Even at the University of Iowa the Bakke case's impact is being felt. It is being felt primarily through job title and job description changes. for example Al Seals has indicated that in the near future his title of Minority Career Advisor/Coordinator will be changed to Career Advisor Specialist. His job will encompass more responsibilities also. A similar title change is happening within the SSS Office concerning Ray Leal's staff position as Assistant Director of Chicano and Native American Programs. 7