<p>WA state voters passed a law in 1998 that prohibits affirmative action. I believe there is not yet a single federal law that preempts our state law.</p>
<p>However, it doesn’t mean that universities don’t have their loopholes. They do. Moreover, “diversity” doesn’t only mean race. It also means a socio-economic status, and as it’s known, Blacks and Hispanics are more likely to come from poor families. The university might prefer someone from this background, but because of the socio-economic status, not the race. Here is a wonderful story about a homeless girl who made it to Harvard, and she is White: <a href=“http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2018373325_homelessharvard07.html[/url]”>http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2018373325_homelessharvard07.html</a></p>
<p>The fact that your roommate made it doesn’t mean that her race was the deciding factor. It might be that she had some very special circumstances that not everyone faces.</p>