The most recent figures on the number of minority students admitted to the University of California show a startling drop -- a drop administrators say they cannot act to correct under an anti-affirmative action initiative passed by California voters. But the existing grounds for admission do in fact discriminate, writes PNS commentator Ron Takaki, who suggests a way to ensure more diverse admissions that stays within the law. Takaki is Professor of Ethnic Studies at UC Berkeley, and author of "A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America."

BERKELEY -- They've changed the rules at the University of California.

As a result, 800 minority students who charged through high school with all "A" records will have to continue their education someplace else -- if they want to go on at all.

In other words, the best -- a 4.0 grade point average -- is no longer good enough. The reason, according to UC administration, is that these students were "Not competitive." It is only fair to point out, however, that they were not competing on a level playing field.

High-school students can now achieve a GPA beyond 4.0 by taking "advanced placement courses" which can award a score of 5.0. This privileges students from schools with the money to pay for AP courses -- most of them in suburban areas.

Students from these schools also benefit from the use of Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores as a criterion for admissions. These scores are directly correlated with family incomes -- they go up together. One reason for this is that students from wealthy families can afford to take the exams more than once and to enroll in expensive SAT prep courses.

The 800 students, not coincidentally, are African American and Latino. Another 791 students from these two groups were admitted. This means that African American and Latino students are only 10 percent of the university 's newest freshman class, compared to 23 percent in 1997.

According to Jesus Mena, spokesperson for the University, admitting the 800 minority students with 4.0 averages would be "seen as racial preference" which is explicitly prohibited by Proposition 209, passed by California voters in the last election.

Thus the UC system, which presents itself as "color-blind" when it comes to admissions, is in fact offering preferential treatment for students from the suburbs. Even those minority students who attend suburban schools commonly report that they find themselves tracked away from college prep and AP courses.

What can be done about this unfair system?

If we believe in evaluating the students as individuals, we can eliminate bonus points for courses offered only in more prosperous districts. We can also abolish, or give less weight to, SAT scores.

Then we can try to create an individual picture of each applicant -- using a comprehensive range of categories, including grades and SAT scores, the personal statement, letters of recommendation, evidence of special talents and interests, and an interview.

At that point, we can take all students ranked in the top third, assign a number to each one, and choose from among them by using a lottery.

This admission procedure would be "race blind" but it would give African American and Latino -- and white working class -- students with a 4.0 average a "competitive chance."

UC Berkeley is unlikely to recover the diversity it has enjoyed in recent years until and unless Prop. 209 is overturned. But we can do some things to level the playing field at least a little.

If we don't, hard-working minority students will be discouraged  from even applying.