Prometheus 6   

Regents vote down proposal to stop funding ethnic-themed events

University of California regents handed fellow board member and activist Ward Connerly a defeat Wednesday, voting down his proposal to stop funding ethnic graduations and gay freshman orientation.

Connerly, who led the fight to drop race-based admissions some years ago, had tried to withdraw his item, which had come under heavy criticism. But fellow regents insisted on a vote, defeating it 6-3 in committee.

…UC officials say sponsoring events such as ethnic graduations is legal because the decision to give money is not based on racial criteria but on how many students will be served. They note the events are open to all students.