For the past 18 years, Proposition 209, also known as the California Civil Rights Initiative, has ensured that no one is discriminated against on the basis of his or her race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in state institutions.

This includes the University of California schools, the California State Universities, and community colleges.

But on Jan 30,  the California Senate passed the Senate Constitutional Amendment No. 5 (SCA 5), which would repeal this proposition that has successfully protected every student’s right to equal opportunities in education.

If SCA 5 is passed by voters in late April, it will remove all mention of public education in Prop. 209 from the definition of state government institutions.

While Prop. 209 will still be in place, the SCA 5 will allow any public school in California to take race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin into consideration in their treatment of its students. The supporters of this bill claim that it will help diversify the demographics in higher education.

The primary concern that has risen from the SCA 5 is regarding college acceptances.

This bill will allow UCs, CSUs and community colleges to accept students not on merit, but on any other factors they deem fit.

“I believe college admission shouldn’t be based on race or gender,” said junior Nick Kauffman.

SCA 5 was initially proposed to address the decreasing number of black and Latino college admissions, primarily in the UC system.

The most significant drops were at UC Berkeley and UCLA, according to the Pasadena Star-News.

On Senator Ed Hernandez’s website, www.sd24.senate.ca.gov, he openly blamed Prop. 209 for the underrepresentation of these ethnic groups in public education.

“There has been a precipitous drop in the percentage of Latino, African American, and Native American students at California public universities despite the fact that those same groups have seen steady increases in their percentages of college-eligible high school graduates,” Hernandez wrote on his website.

The biggest opposition to SCA 5 has come from California’s Asian American community since it will decrease the number of Asian students in UCs, CSUs, and community colleges.

The Asian community in the San Gabriel Valley in Southern California has been rallying against and actively opposing SCA 5, according to the Los Angeles Daily News.

Oliver Liao, president of the Joint Chinese University Alumni Association, criticized the SCA 5 as being racist for allowing public education institutions to give preferential treatment on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin.

“We need to stand up when things are not right; we need to be heard,” said Liao, according to the Daily News. “We shouldn’t have any exceptions related to race. After all, America is a free country.”

History teacher Gary Lambert said this is a blatant act of discrimination against Asians in higher education.

“I think this is the next Chinese Exclusion Act in higher education in California,” said Lambert. “If 80 percent of the students at UCs are Asians, that’s OK.”

Many students also disagree with this act, especially upperclassmen who are concerned about college admissions.

Senior Ellen Kuo expressed strong opposition to SCA 5.

“I think that it’s wrong because it considers race as a factor of getting into college,” said Kuo. “I know that college is supposed to be a time of diversification, but decreasing the percentage of Asians is a really bad attempt. Where does the government draw the line between quotas and considering race in the application process?”

Junior Kara Guse agrees.

“The number of Asians in California is less than half of that of Hispanics. Yet, more than 50 percent of UCs are Asians. Why? We work for it,” said Guse. “We contribute the necessary ethic and work. Asians are underrepresented unfairly too but we worked hard for our achievements.”

But some students agree with the new bill. Sophomore Emily Chan says that SCA 5 will not be disadvantageous to any ethnic group.

“I personally think that SCA 5 is a good thing because it gives other ethnic groups a chance,” said Chan. “I will admit some Asians are overachievers, but I don’t think SCA 5 will affect the rate of Asians accepted into college.”

Junior Neel Baronia disagrees with Chan and criticizes the political aspect of the bill.

“This is the most socialist baloney I have ever heard,” said Baronia. “They are essentially trying to do wealth redistribution, but with academics.”

Some Cal High students have been using social media to express their concerns with SCA 5.

There is also a petition organized to fight SCA 5 on change.org, a public website available for any forms of petition.