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UC Berkeley Groups Debate Affirmative Action at Campus Bake Sale

By Hannah Albarazi1 (BCN)
Tuesday September 27, 2011 - 04:58:00 PM

Republican students at UC Berkeley are holding a controversial "Increase Diversity Bake Sale" on campus today to highlight their opposition to state Senate Bill 185.  

The bill, which was approved by the state Legislature and now sits on Gov. Jerry Brown's desk, would allow the university to consider race, gender, ethnicity and other factors in graduate and undergraduate admissions.  

The Republican group's initial plan called for the baked goods to be sold at varying prices depending on students' race and gender.  

Salih Muhammad, who was with a group protesting the bake sale and supporting affirmative action this morning, explained that he is "outraged by the poor climate at UC Berkeley regarding issues of marginalized communities." 

Ronald Cruz, organizer with the group BAMN pointed out that since Proposition 209 passed in 1996, there has been a significant drop in the number of students of color admitted to UC Berkeley.