UCLA political science professor Tim Groseclose has resigned from the university's admissions committee after his calls for information about and an investigation into the method with which blacks were being admitted fell on deaf ears. Groseclose believes UCLA is "cheating," admitting blacks based on their race despite a longstanding ban on the practice.

"A growing body of evidence strongly suggests that UCLA is cheating on admissions," … Groseclose wrote in a report he released Thursday. "Specifically, applicants often reveal their own race on the essay portion of the application."

Campus officials deny the accusations and say they're following the law. Privacy concerns prevented the university from giving Groseclose the data he wanted, officials said.
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Students typically report their race on their applications, but the people who evaluate their files don't see names, race or ethnicity. If race does come up in an application essay, it's supposed to be ignored, said Janina Montero, vice chancellor for student affairs.

"The readers are instructed repeatedly not to consider race at all," Montero said.

Campus officials have been under intense pressure to increase numbers of black students, particularly since a 2006 public outcry over the fact that only 96 of the nearly 5,000 freshmen who enrolled at the prestigious campus were African American.

Tough one! As we have been so many times before, we're faced with this timeless question: At what point should laws be neglected in pursuit of what's "right"?