With the recent close of the University Law School admissions trial, one of the last issues presented and one on the minds of many observers is the effect of affirmative action on Asian-Americans. Asian-Americans, who have been widely acknowledged as a "model minority" were cited by opponents of affirmative action as being harmed by the University"s race-conscious admissions system. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Affirmative action is not merely a policy of compensation for past grievances inasmuch as it is a policy to promote diversity. This goal is the motivation of higher educational institutions across the country. At the University, Asian-American students have benefited from a spirit of tolerance, which is the direct result of a multicultural campus. This spirit of tolerance toward those of Asian descent is invaluable in ensuring future prosperity. One needs to look no farther than the mass internment of law-abiding Japanese-American citizens during World War II for historical evidence of widespread fear and ignorance of Asian-Americans in the United States.

Given the struggles that many Asian-Americans have faced due to prejudice and racism, it seems logical that the community should support any policy that encourages diversity and fosters cultural awareness: Affirmative action does exactly that. By bringing peoples of all races together in one academic setting, the University"s admissions policy promotes interracial interaction and multiculturalism.

Without affirmative action, minority enrollment at state institutions, such as the University, will drop. Although some may argue that Asian-Americans would not be affected, Prof. Frank Wu provided compelling testimony on Feb. 12 that certain Asian groups such as Filipino students would be harmed.

In any given year, competitive higher educational institutions such as the University have many more qualified applicants than spaces for admission. In deciding which students to admit among scores of applicants, the University does not simply rely on individual test scores or grades. The University"s obligation is not simply to admit the best students possible but to assemble the best class possible. If the latter is to be accomplished, steps must taken to preserve intellectual and racial diversity. It is to every student"s benefit to be exposed to a wide variety of cultures and experiences that can only be cultivated through a diverse student body. The fact that the United Asian Organizations on campus voted in support of affirmative action strengthens the idea that every student regardless of his or her race or ethnicity benefits from exposure to a wide variety of people.