Again I am amazed at how Penn State must break up its students into those who are black and those who are white ("Black graduation rate low," Feb. 26 article.) Why does it matter that the black graduation rate is lower? Is it necessary to point out this obscure detail? If one should not discriminate based on skin color, how is this any more valid than saying, "People over six feet tall have a lower graduation rate than midgets?"

It's an absurd statistic because it is meaningless in today's society. Well, at least, it should be meaningless. The fact is that with a population of 40,000-plus students, graduation rates of any two randomly selected group should be statistically equal. Here, they are indeed not. Why is this? It's certainly not because of what Black Caucus President David Davis would have you assume. Black people do not succumb to culture shock upon entering State College. This is a defeatist attitude. There are plenty of black students who succeed and prosper at Penn State.

The reason for the lower graduation rates is due almost solely to affirmative action. The fact is that so long as universities across America allow under qualified minorities to be admitted to fill quotas, lower graduation rates will always exist.

If filling quotas is President Spanier's goal, then he cannot expect graduation rates to be equal. The two are mutually exclusive.

I say aim high and only admit students with the needed credentials. Don't look at skin color or you, President Spanier, will be a racist.