Congratulations to last week's winners: Reiko Akiyoshi, Jordan Benjamin, Sonia Kelley, Maggie Merritt, and Silas Snyder. Please note: Even if you've won a mug, we welcome your votes and comments.

Responses to last week's question: When Currents readers were asked if they agreed with UC President Atkinson's proposal to drop the SAT from the UC admissions process, a majority of readers agreed. The response was 13 yes, 10 no, and 3 unsure. A sampling of readers' views follows.

On the yes side:

"The SAT is culturally biased, and one of the purposes it serves is to screen for minorities being admitted to UCs. So, drop the SAT."

"The SAT has become big business for some folks in New Jersey yet is not predictive of success in college. High school juniors and their parents are spending more time obsessing about the SAT score and preparation than on living, learning and enjoying high school and the last two years of being together"

"The SAT . . . should be replaced with a more expansive exam that seeks to measure other intelligences critical to success and the measurement of potential."

On the no side:

"This is a terrible idea. The SAT is the only way of comparing students from different schools. As for cultural bias, surely the math section isn't affected by culture? As for the verbal, people who have problems with that are likely going to have problems with college work as well."

"SATs should be used in conjunction with other decision-making tools. SATs measure certain things, as do essays, student involvment and more."

Unsure:

"I think there is a role for a test similar to the SAT 1, but that role should be reduced. The level of preparation wealthy families can provide has reduced the SAT's value considerably. On the other hand, I think there is a need for an objective test."

Tell us what you think: Each week, we post a question about a topic that's been in the news, is of general interest, or has been suggested by our readers. You have a chance to "weigh in" with a simple "yes," "no," or "unsure," or you may elaborate if you like. Responses are due by Friday at 8 a.m.

Win a nifty Currents Online coffee mug: Each week, the names of five respondents are drawn at random to win a mug. Participants must be UCSC staff, faculty, or students. Please submit your name and campus e-mail address on the response form. One mug per person.

This week's question: President Bush's $1.6 trillion tax cut plan recently breezed through the House of Representatives and heads to the Senate soon. Are these tax cuts the cure for a slowing economy?

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