While the recision of SP-1 and SP-2 by a unanimous vote of the UC Board of Regents May 16 is viewed by many as a symbolic gesture, UCLA leaders nevertheless hailed the end of the 1995 policies banning consideration of race and sex in admissions, hiring and contracting.

"I'm delighted that SP-1 and SP-2 have been rescinded," said Chancellor Albert Carnesale, who attended the regents' meeting at UC San Francisco. "And equally important is that it was done in a way that leaves the university and the board united."

Stephen Yeazell, chair of UCLA's Academic Senate and a law professor, applauded the regents' decision as well.

"It's important that the regents have returned authority over admissions policy to the Senate," the chair noted. "Seen in the perspective of UC's history, this regental action marks the end of an unfortunate period and the return to a normal and happier relationship in the governance of the university."

But while campus leaders, the regents and legislators hoped that the action clearly signals that the university welcomes a diverse student body, no one can predict whether more underrepresented students will ultimately apply and enroll.

"It is clear that many interpreted SP-1 and SP-2 as a negative statement about our desire for diversity," said Carnesale. But what is left unclear, he said, is "the effect of the resolution on minority enrollment." That won't be determined "until we know what the new (admissions) policy is and see how it is implemented."

In a session filled with surprises and emotion, the regents approved, by a 22-0 vote, a resolution finalized only hours before by its sponsors, UC President Richard Atkinson and state legislators.

"This is a great day for the University of California and the people of California," said Atkinson, who cast the final "yes" vote on the measure.

The regents charged the Academic Senate with developing new admissions criteria, set a tight deadline for putting those guidelines in place and recommitted the university to outreach and retention programs. At the same time, it acknowledged the university is now governed by state law, enacted as a result of Proposition 209, requiring it to disregard race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin in admissions, hiring and contracting.

A delegation of nine elected officials - led by Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante and Assembly Speaker Robert Hertzberg -appeared in person to support a "clear and unambiguous" repeal of SP-1 and SP-2.

"We are spending enough energy on this thing ... we could light the city of L.A. for weeks," said Regent Ward Connerly, author of SP-1 and SP-2, in explaining his decision to support the resolution.

Pro-affirmative action student activists inside and outside the auditorium - surprised to find that the final resolution "rescinded" rather than "replaced" or "superseded" SP-1 and SP-2 - cheered the vote and vowed to continue their efforts.

The Academic Senate is now charged with developing recommendations for revised admissions criteria, unrestricted by SP-1's requirement that 50% to 75% of applicants be evaluated on academic criteria alone. After reviews at both the divisional and systemwide levels of the Senate, faculty recommendations would go to the regents for approval and be implemented by fall 2002.

That poses a very substantial challenge to the Senate, Yeazell noted.

"President Atkinson committed us to a thorough review of the entire undergraduate admissions policy by Jan. 1," the Senate chair noted. "Doing that job right will require some resources and some concerted engagement by faculty and senior administrators."

According to Professor Michael Cowan, chair of UC's Academic Council, the faculty will consider how to weigh academic and motivational factors and whether to retain quantitative measures of college preparedness, such as the SAT I.

The resolution is available via a link from the UC Office of the President's Web site. Or go to www.ucop.edu/ucophome/commserv/access/propres.htm.

Cathy Cockrell covered the regents' meeting in San Francisco for both The Berkeleyan and UCLA Today. UCLA Today editor Cynthia Lee contributed to this story.