University of California President Richard Atkinson proposed last week to discontinue the use of SAT I scores as mandatory admissions criteria for the UC system. These standardized tests have been proven to be poor predictors of future academic performance and some smaller schools have already stopped using them in their admissions processes. Atkinson and the others should be commended for their efforts to reduce the influence of these tests. The UC system and the its governing Board of Regents should accept Atkinson"s proposal and universities across the nation should follow their example.

One reason that standardized tests should not be required for admission to college is their propensity for bias. Numerous studies have indicated that standardized tests are prejudiced against minorities and the poor and empirical evidence also shows that males consistently out-score females without subsequently higher grades in college. Thus, SAT scores unjustly benefit a disproportionate number of privileged white males in gaining acceptance to the best universities.

In a state that has banned race-based affirmative action and subsequently seen minority enrollment in its state universities drop, not requiring the SAT is a critical step in providing equal academic opportunities for all in California.

Another reason Atkinson wants to stop requiring the SAT is that number-obsessed secondary schools are beginning to devote more time to "training" students to succeed on standardized tests than to teaching them. Atkinson found that "time involved was not aimed at developing the students" reading and writing responsibilities but rather their test-taking skills."

Under Atkinson"s proposal, college applicants would not have to disclose their scores on the SAT I or, in lieu of the SAT I, the ACT. The SAT-II, which tests on a wider range of subjects, including foreign language, science and history would still be required it is currently thought to be a less-biased assessment than the original SAT.

While Atkinson"s plan may not solve all of California"s educational diversity problems or completely remove the bias from college admissions policies, it is a great first step in the ongoing effort to achieve equal opportunity with regard to class, race and gender in academia.