Chang-Lin Tien

About the author: Chang-Lin Tien is a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of California at Berkeley and served as the university's chancellor from 1990 to 1997.

Affirmative action programs have fostered an atmosphere of diversity and racial tolerance on college campuses across America. Students who are taught in a culturally diverse setting are better equipped to succeed in a multicultural and multiracial society. Because it promotes interaction between people of different races, affirmative action can be an effective tool in bridging racial divisions.

When the debate over affirmative action in higher education exploded, my open support surprised many. My personal view about using race, ethnicity, and sex among the factors in student admissions has put me at odds with many, including the majority of the Regents of the University of California who govern my campus.

With California voters...