
You may have been seeing the University of California (UC) in the news a lot lately. The scandalous  [report](https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2025/11/12/uc-san-diego-sees-students-math-skills-plummet)  on UC San Diego freshmen’s disastrous math skills – with one in 12 being placed below a middle school level in spite of inflated high school GPA, reveals at least two troubling problems:

1. The war on merit, starting with UC’s decision to abolish standardized testing in 2020, is bearing its ugly fruits.

2. UC’s unfair, race-based admission practices have resulted in a generation of students painfully unprepared for rigorous college coursework, while stripping away opportunities for more academically inclined students on the basis of race.

Some are  [calling](https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2025-12-14/uc-admissions-sat-standardized-tests)  UC to reinstate SAT and ACT, as CFER has advocated for in the past five years. But it takes more than media headlines and public outcry to hold one of the world’s largest public higher education systems accountable. Especially, when the decisionmakers insulate themselves from external pressure to coddle ideological obsessions with race-centric thinking,  **legal actions are our last line of defense**.

Luckily, three lawsuits have been filed against UC this year, with the  [first](https://californiaglobe.com/fr/ucla-students-protest-lawsuit-alleging-that-uc-still-uses-race-based-admission-decisions/)  being one launched by Students Against Racial Discrimination (SARD), which alleges racial discrimination in UC’s undergraduate admissions. Since last year, SARD has worked diligently to build an effective case against UC (see CFER’s previous  [alert](https://www.cferfoundation.org/posts/post-SARD-2024)  for SARD). With the help of pro bono legal experts, including UCLA Law Professor and CFER advisor Richard Sander, the case is making progress in the court system: a trial has been scheduled and the discovery process has been directed to proceed.

As the case enters its second year, SARD is in need of an ongoing stream of high school students who plan to apply to UC, as existing participants "age out."  **If you are a high school student, or the parent of a student, who is concerned about UC admissions, I want to encourage you to contact SARD directly to discuss the possibility of your joining the suit**. There is no cost, and SARD vigorously protects your anonymity.

For years, UC has circumvented California’s constitutional guarantee of equal protection. Through racial-balancing practices, attempts to water down standards by phasing out SAT/ACT and the employment of various race proxies, the system has curated so-called racial diversity at the expenses of excellence and fairness. We implore you to join SARD, CFER and other concerned parties in prompting necessary changes in UC.

You can contact Professor Richard Sander directly at  [sander@law.ucla.edu](mailto:sander@law.ucla.edu). Alternatively, you can also  **reply to info@cferfoundation.org to let CFER know your interest in participating anonymously.**

Many thanks!

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Help Needed to Support SARD’s Lawsuit against UC’s Discriminatory Admissions

Earlier this week, CFER Executive Director Dr. Wenyuan Wu joined the Pacific Research Institute in Sacramento at its school board members conference. During the seminar, Wenyuan presented on the continued need to expose and confront the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) ideology. She also connected with dozens of independent school board trustees, all of whom are diligently fighting for their local education. Some have achieved success in pursuing equality, excellence and accountability in their school districts by repealing divisive policies, revising bad curriculums and grading practices, and standing up to the progressive orthodoxy.  
  
In this encouraging spirit, we want to report another important development coming out of the Palomar Community College District, where CFER President Frank Xu resides. Recently, the Palomar College Governing Board [voted](https://cferfoundation.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b78c84756813bc7a3a38500a0&id=bdd9301ba2&e=9bc1f4f2ad) 3-2 to eliminate its anti-racism policy, [BP 3000](https://cferfoundation.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b78c84756813bc7a3a38500a0&id=247f412c68&e=9bc1f4f2ad), which we reported in an earlier email. While union members and indoctrinated students showed up in droves and steamrolled the entire public comment session in defense of anti-racism (anti-racism in name only, pro-racism/DEI in fact - author NOTE), the three courage board trustees withheld the pressure and voted against race-based identity politics. Frank was honored to be the lone voice in support of them, as [reported](https://cferfoundation.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b78c84756813bc7a3a38500a0&id=8da7bfcf4b&e=9bc1f4f2ad)by the local newspaper:  
  
_“Only one audience member, former Governing Board candidate Frank Xu, applauded the decision, while others left the room chanting ‘vote them out.’”_  
  
Shortly after the vote, Palomar College’s President/Superintendent [announced](https://cferfoundation.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b78c84756813bc7a3a38500a0&id=d3c469555c&e=9bc1f4f2ad) her plan to leave the school district. Having built a “legacy” of promoting DEI, through establishing the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Antiracism, and the position of Chief Diversity Officer, **the president’s departure is definitely a win for the opposition to DEI**. **The conservative board now has the opportunity to hire a new president and turn the tide from within.**  
  
For decades, the left’s tactics of shaming and smearing have worked to intimidate too many school board trustees. **Not anymore.** The success story from the Palomar College Board demonstrates the importance of strong leadership in defeating a dogma that’s so invasive, infectious and fundamentally unamerican.  
  
Since a year ago, Frank has been attending my local school board meetings and speaking up against DEI. Oftentimes, he was the only voice in support of the three conservative trustees. He has been **called names and even ridiculed** for my unrelenting opposition to DEI. The trustees have faced much worse. But we can prevail with persistence and perseverance. **We must stand firm in the truth of equal treatment for all and support each other.**  
  
Qinwei, this is why we are challenging you today with a task: please **go support your local school board members who are gatekeeping your local education from indoctrination and discrimination.** Make a plan to attend the school board meetings regularly, speak up and stay engaged.  
  
At CFER, local organizing continues to be a priority. You can check out what we have done this year in this area in our [annual report](https://cferfoundation.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b78c84756813bc7a3a38500a0&id=511bff3d65&e=9bc1f4f2ad).  
  
You can also help CFER with a generous [donation](https://cferfoundation.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b78c84756813bc7a3a38500a0&id=8c9e2bdf72&e=9bc1f4f2ad) so that we can support more conservative and independent school board members with resources and knowledge.
  
Once again, thank you so much for your trust and help!

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Help your local school board members govern effectively and successfully! A success story and more


In its daily news roundup on October 21st, the California School Boards Association (CSBA) of all places  [shared](http://link.csba.org/m/1/85483239/02-b25294-d91b7f2678474687959ace443b4783f8/4/229/703a259a-636c-4981-87d6-31a70c83661c)  the story regarding CFER’s recent  victory  in prompting the removal of a race-based scholarship at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD).  The  message  was sent to all school board members in California. I hope that announcing the case to the large community of school board trustees serves as  **a wakeup call to all of them to strictly observe the law and safeguard equal protection**. You can help drive this important point home by reminding your local school board of our win  during  the public-comments session at upcoming meetings!

It  is  crucial that we  share our  wins  with school board members,  some of whom may  not understand important issues,  such as differences  between equal opportunity and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). It's equally important to consistently support those brave school board members who take bold  actions to protect students and advance educational excellence. 

On October 14th, the Palomar College Governing Board  [voted](https://the-telescope.com/73487/news/campus-news/palomar-board-removes-anti-racism-policy-after-heated-debate/)  3-2 to delete Board Policy 3000 – an antiracism and equity policy adopted by the previous board in 2021. Although the local teachers’ union and other progressive establishment interests organized a fierce campaign of faculty members, administrators and students giving public comments against the decision, the board, with a slight conservative majority unbeholden to the establishment values, withheld the pressure and pushed through.

CFER president and Palomar local resident Frank Xu had been attending Palomar’s board meetings.  On the night when BP 3000 was voted out, Frank was the lone  voice  in support. The local newspaper  [noted](https://the-telescope.com/73487/news/campus-news/palomar-board-removes-anti-racism-policy-after-heated-debate/):

*"Only one audience member, former Governing Board candidate Frank Xu, applauded the decision, while others left the room chanting 'vote them out.' 'I hope the board will vote to remove that board policy. And in the meantime, keep fighting discrimination inside the campus and make sure every student and every faculty got the same equal treatment, equal opportunity without regard of their race or ethnicity or skin color,' Xu said."*

Participating at these board meetings, often marked by organized hostilities from union activists and ideologues, is a test of wills. We have been called names. We have been shouted down. We have been condemned. So have Palomar’s  three conservative trustees.  Courageous and resolved, the trustees delivered on their promise to the entire community to do away with counterproductive, discriminatory indoctrination. A good win indeed!

On a related note, CFER team has received a threatening cease and desist letter just because we have advocated for equal justices with success recently. While the allegations in the letter are baseless and the demands are unreasonable, I believe such a reaction only demonstrates the effectiveness of our work.

We want to use these developments as a strong encouragement to you. With persistence, strategy and proactive advocacy, we can score for equality even in the most unlikely place like California. We also must stand strong in the face of pushbacks and smears.

You can also check out more progress CFER has achieved this year by reviewing our annual report  [here](https://strapi-cfer.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/a90410b5e299cac714c1e7eeeeee0a68.pdf).

The dust has not settled. We still have a nation and our future generations to save, and we can do it one community, one school district, one legal case at a time. If you are encouraged and reassured, may we humbly ask you for a kind  [donation](https://www.cferfoundation.org/support)  to CFER to help us carry on?

Thank you sincerely!

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Communicate to your school board about CFER’s victory against UCSD…

As you may know, we took the University of California Board of Regents, University of California San Diego (UCSD) and Black Alumni Scholarship Fund to [court](https://pacificlegal.org/case/ucsd-basf-scholarship-discrimination/) in July to challenge a race-based scholarship named “Black Academic Excellence Initiative (BAEI).” Knowing that BAEI was blatantly unconstitutional, the defendants reached out to settle immediately following our legal filings. **Recently, _CFER v. UCSD_ was successfully concluded with the permanent elimination of BAEI**.  
  
To replace the Black Alumni Scholarship Fund, the San Diego Foundation (SDF, nonprofit administrator of the scholarship) launched **the Lennon Goins Alumni Scholarship Fund** ([GASF](https://gasf-sandiego.com/)), which offers scholarships to UCSD students **based on individual needs, merit and community service**. Neither race nor any race proxy will be employed in the implementation of the new scholarship. 
  
This is a great win for equal rights. **Thanks to our excellent legal counsel from the Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF), we were able to stop a 42-year-old racial-favor program in less than three months**!  
  
"We are pleased that the race-based criteria have been eliminated from the scholarship program. Awarding scholarships on the basis of race is a practice that has no place in the American university system,” said PLF attorney Jack Brown who represented CFER in this case. “We're proud to have helped our clients fight for equality for students at the University."  
  
BAEI was a [partnership](https://diversity.ucsd.edu/initiatives/black-academic-excellence/index.html) between UCSD’s Black Alumni Council and the San Diego Foundation that gives qualified UCSD students both financial aid and mentorship opportunities. It is only available for “admitted Black undergraduates.” Although UCSD denied any official involvement in the selection of the scholarship recipients and in its administration, our lawsuit provided overwhelming evidence that the school, a public university funded by California taxpayers, is intimately engaged in the history and current operations of BAEI.  
  
The success was a collective effort. We were joined by CFER members who are: 1. Mr. Kai Peters, a non-Black UCSD junior who would have participated in both the financial and mentorship components of BAEI; 2. a current UCSD student who was excluded from BASF due to her race (CFER Member A); 3. an Asian American high schooler who has plans to apply to UCSD (CFER Member B); 4. Multiple CFER high school members with plans to apply to UCSD (CFER High School Members).  
  
Now, with the new merit-based scholarship, these CFER members will have equal access to the financial and educational resources that were not available to them previously due to race. Going forward, CFER will continue to monitor developments pertaining to the new scholarship to **ensure that UCSD and SDF do not smuggle in race considerations in the future**.  
  
Although we contend with an unfavorable political environment and wrestle with a divisive culture, we are determined to press on with the cause of equality in both the court of law and the court of public opinions. Eliminating this race-centric scholarship is the **third legal advocacy** [**victory**](https://www.cferfoundation.org/legal) **CFER has achieved this year**! We will carry on because the principle of equal protection must be defended time and again. If you believe in our resolve and our track record, we want to ask you to [consider](https://www.cferfoundation.org/support) CFER in your charitable giving to help us further our work. You can also [join](https://www.cferfoundation.org/member/register) as a CFER member and help us launch more legal challenges in support of equality.  
  
Thank you!

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Victory! CFER sued and stopped a 42-year-old, unconstitutional scholarship at UCSD


We are happy to share some exciting news with you today. On October 13th, Governor Gavin Newsom  [vetoed](https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/10/13/governor-newsom-issues-legislative-update-10-13-25/)[AB 7](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB7&search_keywords=slavery)  (college admissions preferences for descendants of slavery),  [AB 57](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB57)  (affordable housing for descendants of slaves),  [AB 62](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB62&search_keywords=equity)  (racially motivated eminent domain),  [AB 742](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB742)  (licensing board application preferences for descendants of slaves). Along with  [ACA 7](https://www.cferfoundation.org/posts/post-aca-7-victory), which was stopped in the state legislature,  **we have managed to defeat five of eight reparations-themed bills introduced in this legislative session**!

This victory is a result of collaboration among multiple stakeholders including you! CFER Executive Vice President Professor  **Gail Heriot**  led a postcard lobby campaign to urge state lawmakers and the governor to reject these bills. Ms.  **Brita Lindstrom**  of San Diego greatly assisted in that initiative. Thanks to the tireless efforts by the  **Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF) and CFER, the sole voices of opposition against race-based reparations registered with the State Government and** [**featured**](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.dailynews.com/2025/09/16/black-students-need-choice-not-illegal-gestures-like-assembly-bill-7/&ved=2ahUKEwi339flnKSQAxUUWDABHRFYDqkQxfQBKAB6BAgJEAE&usg=AOvVaw1Qj5-PUtff-WrKtgeZm57I) **in the** [**news**](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://sacobserver.com/2025/07/ab-7-reparations-bill-california/&ved=2ahUKEwjjpJHYnKSQAxXKSjABHcKUHWEQxfQBKAB6BAgMEAE&usg=AOvVaw1hV3cLFxmFp9gNKurhXemP) **for the** [**opposition**](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.campusreform.org/article/california-passes-bill-allow-slavery-lineage-admissions-despite-affirmative-action-bans/28677&ved=2ahUKEwi339flnKSQAxUUWDABHRFYDqkQxfQBKAB6BAgTEAE&usg=AOvVaw0u-bRTljudBglrWAsRDkHu), these divisive and potentially unconstitutional proposals are prevented from becoming state law. During CFER’s State Capitol tour to Sacramento in February, CFER was joined by  **Greg Burt**  of the California Family Council and PLF’s  **Andrew Quinio**  in testifying against AB 7, ACA 7, AB 57 and other similar legislation. Last but not least,  **we also owe this hard-fought success to many of our supporters**, including you, who have contacted your state representatives and the Governor’s office to voice concerns.

We must be encouraged by this development, especially in California, where state policymaking is dominated by one party. Looking back even in recent history, when state bills favoring racial spoils were fast-tracked into legislation at around 2020,  **today’s triumph is not just a result of changing circumstances, but more importantly due to our long-term advocacy amidst formidable challenges**. We could have not built this growing track record of confronting and defeating illiberal policies at the state and local levels without your support. So, please allow me to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude.

However,  **the battle for equality is far from over, as the movement for reparations in California goes on**. Three other reparations bills, -  [SB 510](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB510)  (racial history education),  [SB 518](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB518&search_keywords=slavery)  (Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery), and  [SB 437](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB437&search_keywords=slavery)  ($6,000,000 for the California State University to conduct research for reparations), were signed into law. Even in his AB 7 veto  [message](https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/AB-7-Veto.pdf), Governor Newsom deferred to universities and colleges for their “authority to determine whether to provide admissions preferences.”  As you can see, all these successfully codified bills share a similar pattern of expending taxpayer money on research and education, which makes it hard to argue they’re unconstitutional. On the contrary, those that were vetoed focused on the implementation of reparations, which made the State of California vulnerable for legal scrutiny. PLF and CFER were ready to take legal actions against them and we are still ready and willing to do so regarding future state bills.

While we rightfully celebrate the end of five particularly egregious reparation bills, CFER is resolved to continue to monitor future policy developments following the passage of SB 510, SB 518 and SB 437. We will not stop being watchful. We will not retreat in complacency.

If you are encouraged by CFER’s work, can I please ask you to  [make](https://www.cferfoundation.org/support)  a kind donation today so that we can press on?

Thank you warmly!

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Important victories on our continued journey: AB 7, AB 57, and other reparation bills are vetoed but a study for reparations eligibility is funded

As this summer comes to an end, schools throughout California are starting their new school year. In light of existing and incoming changes to education policies and the broad legal landscape, we want to check in with a few suggestions for you to consider as you continue to advocate in your local school district.

**1.** **Monitor the implementation of ethnic studies in your local schools.**

The 2025-26 state budget does not contain any funding/appropriation portion for the ethnic studies mandate (AB 101). This means  **school districts are not obligated to make the course a graduation requirement**. However, many school districts are teaching the controversial subject to varying degrees: while some like the San Diego Unified School District are  [requiring](https://www.sdusdethnicstudies.org/)  ethnic studies for high school graduation, others including the San Dieguito Union High School District have  [made](https://thecoastnews.com/san-dieguito-makes-ethnic-studies-optional-for-fall/)  the course optional. CFER’s school-district  [database](https://www.cferfoundation.org/research/crt-in-school-districts), which has surveyed 426 school districts in the Golden State has more information. If like me, you are also unconvinced about the so-called educational benefits of a contested discipline, you should  **closely monitor how ethnic studies is being taught in your local school district**. Speak up at school board meetings to let the trustees know a mandate for ethnic studies is not backed by state funding and to request public access to course materials as well as evidence of educational efficacy.

**2.** **Protect your child’s rights and advance parental rights by opting out of invasive gender education.**

As you may know, the recent  **U.S. Supreme Court  [ruling](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24-297_4f14.pdf)  in  _Mahmoud v. Taylor_  allows parents to opt their children out of reading LGBTQ+ inclusive storybooks**  and other relevant contents in public schools. This is a much-needed blow to the dangerous and constant drumbeat of transgender ideology activists, who have spent the last two decades usurping public education and infiltrating the system with age-inappropriate indoctrination. Our children’s innocence is worth protecting and fighting for. Please pay attention to how your local schools are curating school library books and seek opt-out forms at the school district level. The ruling in  _Mahmoud v. Taylor_  protects parents’ First Amendment right to require schools give reasonable notice and opportunity to opt their children out of certain school lessons on the ground of religious or moral belief. You can choose to remove your child from:

· Lessons and activities teaching gender identity and gender transition.

· Lessons and curriculum portraying, detailing and normalizing LGBTQ+ behavior.

· “LGBTQIA+ inclusive” books contradicting your family’s beliefs on marriage/sexuality.

· Health class lessons, literature selections and other school materials that contradict your family’s religious/moral convictions.

In addition to locating opt-out forms from your local school district, you can also utilize this opt-out  [form](https://www.ip-ca.org/opt-out)  from Informed Parents of California the Pacific Justice Institute.

Although topics and focuses pertaining to public education advocacy are constantly shifting and evolving, the core of the battle stays the same**: we must fight to preserve the values and principles necessary for making our schools excellent, accountable and fair**. In this spirit, I want to encourage you to stay engaged and organized in this school year. Check out CFER’s previous posts on  [elevating your cause](https://www.cferfoundation.org/posts/post-elevate-your-cause)and  [becoming organized](https://www.cferfoundation.org/posts/post-local-organizing-step-two). If you can, please also consider making a generous  [contribution](https://www.cferfoundation.org/support)  to CFER today so that we can help more and more parents at the local school district level.

Thank you warmly!

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