Students protest UCLA over admissions

Thirteen people were arrested while protesting the University of California, Los Angeles admissions office for the admission of more minorities, officials say The protest began at 3:15 p.m. Friday at the UCLA admissions office, the Los Angeles Times reported. Campus police made the arrests and ordered other protesters to disperse after the building closed at 6 p.m., UCLA officials said. There were no injuries. Jose Alvarenga, who currently attends Pasadena City College and plans to apply to UCLA next year, said protesters are trying to get the university to "open the doors of the university" to underrepresented minorities. This year, 44.9 percent of the California residents admitted to UCLA were Asian American, 25.8 percent were white, 21.1 percent were Latino, 3.8 percent were black and 0.7 percent were American Indian. "This school does not look like this city of Los Angeles at all," Alvarenga said. "Many students don't even apply because they don't feel confident enough that they will be accepted." Protesters also called on the university to reconsider the applications of black, Latino and American Indians who have been denied admission. UCLA spokesman Phil Hampton said the school is dedicated to having a diverse student body. "Within the constraints of state law, the campus is doing everything possible to ensure that the student body reflects the state population," Hampton said. "We have made great strides but acknowledge that more improvement is needed."