The University of California Board of Regents may revisit its ban on affirmative action in admissions as early as May, but any repeal of SP-1 - which in 1995 banned affirmative action from admissions - would be mostly symbolic because Proposition 209 passed by California voters in 1996 remains state law.

However, several regents who favor the repeal say the action would encourage more minority students to attend the university system and may aid in repairing the university's reputation, which they say has been tarnished.

"The regents are going to repair the reputation of the University of California," said Regent William T. Bagley. "What happened five or six years ago is unconscionable."

But Bagley said the matter of a repeal wouldn't be brought up until advocates feel there are enough votes to reverse the ban.

During the regents' meeting at UCLA March 14-15, Regent S. Sue Johnson, who has come out publicly against a repeal, called for a discussion of the issue at their May meeting in San Francisco.

"I am asking General Counsel James Holst and President (Richard) Atkinson to prepare to report to the full board about the range of educational and other issues that might be involved in the possible repeal of SP-1," said Johnson, who is chairman of the board. "In the meantime, I urge that the debate over SP-1 take place in a calm and careful manner - we all agree that we would want to see no harm come to this magnificent university."

In opposing the repeal, Johnson, in an editorial published in the Los Angeles Times, said, "The better message to send is that we are all committed to continuing to provide access and diversity without artificial preferences being given to anyone based on race or ethnicity. The fact is, UC's door remains open to the best and brightest."

Student groups, including the California Statewide Affirmative Action Coalition, have long called for a repeal of SP-1. Outside the James West Alumni Center, where the meeting was held, an estimated 1,000 students from UC campuses and several high schools across the state picketed and chanted loud enough to be heard inside as a constant drone.

Several students made passionate pleas to the regents during the opening day's public comment period.

"You have the opportunity today to take down the "not-wanted" sign that students of color see at the UC and prove to the state and the nation that the UC values diversity," UCLA student Cynthia Mosqueda told the regents.

But after the regents concluded their meeting for the day without acting on SP-1, about 200 students occupied Royce Hall. Their action forced the cancellation of a debate by Los Angeles mayoral candidates scheduled that evening.

After canceling the debate, Chancellor Albert Carnesale gave the protesters an 8 p.m. deadline to leave Royce, which students met, ending the protest peacefully.

"Chancellor Carnesale did an outstanding job of managing, coordinating and negotiating all aspects of the incident," said Police Chief Clarence Chapman, who noted that police presence was purposely kept low-key. "The outcome was absolutely successful in that there was no property damage, no arrests, and the students felt they had some political or moral victory."

Still, campus officials said they were disappointed about the cancellation of the debate, which has been rescheduled for April 4 at 7:30 p.m.