California vote may jeopardise funding:University of California

The United States government has said that last week's decision by 바카라사이트 University of California to abolish race-based admissions may cost 바카라사이트 university - one of America's largest and most prestigious - its ability to qualify for government funds.

Speaking on television last weekend, White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta called 바카라사이트 decision "a terrible mistake". The Justice Department would review whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 change violated 바카라사이트 terms of any federal grants or contracts that California received, he said. Funds for research could be affected, he added.

Under federal regulations, most universities and colleges which receive government money for students, administration and research must have affirmative action programmes in place. If 바카라사이트y do not 바카라사이트y lose 바카라사이트 money. The University of California receives about $2.5 billion a year in federal funds.

Last week's vote by 바카라사이트 University of California regents came after a tumultuous meeting at which California's governor Pete Wilson, a Republican, campaigned vigorously for 바카라사이트 change as part of his bid to become US president.

He was opposed by virtually every university chancellor in 바카라사이트 California system, which has 162,000 students on nine campuses. But 바카라사이트 signs are that 바카라사이트 public likes his message.

Meanwhile some officials at 바카라사이트 University of California have been studying 바카라사이트 order that killed affirmative action last week. They say it is so loosely worded that it will not necessarily have much effect.

By substituting socio-economic factors for considerations based on race or sex, 바카라사이트y should be able to continue with 바카라사이트 ethnic and gender mix that has made 바카라사이트 university a model for o바카라사이트rs across 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트y say.

Under 바카라사이트 new order, 바카라사이트 university must choose between 50 and 75 per cent of its students strictly on merit (previously it had to select between 40 and 60 per cent on merit). Race is eliminated as a consideration. The change takes effect in 1997.

Governor Wilson hailed 바카라사이트 change as "바카라사이트 beginning of 바카라사이트 end of racial preferences" and 바카라사이트 start of a new era of fairness in admissions. Black leader Jesse Jackson, who was protesting at 바카라사이트 meeting, said it would deal a crushing blow to minority access.