We are their legacy. This is our history. Let me turn briefly to the second argument made by the opponents of affirmative action - that affirmative action inevitably compromises excellence. My comments again focus on the school of medicine, because these are the students that I know, but I am sure similar observations apply to the other schools as well. By virtually every standard, our students continue to excel and rank among the best in the world.
Lets look at the facts.
The 2nd-year medical board exam is a written test aimed at measuring cognitive skills acquired during the first 2 years of medical school. Two other graduating students are given honorable mention. Furthermore, our graduating students are among the most successful in the country in getting accepted to the best residency programs. Finally, what of the argument that affirmative action is no longer needed. We have come a long way, but there is much more work to be done.