SAN FRANCISCO -- For the second time in five years, University of California regents have rebuffed an effort by one of their own to ban funding for special graduation and orientation activities for minority students.

The UC Regents Finance Committee voted 6-3 Wednesday to reject the proposal by Regent Ward Connerly, who attempted to withdraw the proposal from a vote at the last minute. The UC's governing body turned down a similar proposal by Connerly in 1998.

Connerly, who championed Proposition 209, California's ban on racial preferences, said he was moved by Regent Matt Murray's argument that the proposal would take away opportunities for gay and lesbian students to discuss their unique health and social needs in a small-scale orientation tailored for them. Murray is the board's newly appointed student regent.

"I felt sufficiently converted to yank the item," Connerly said. "I don't plan to resurrect this from the grave."

Still, Connerly said he believes graduation ceremonies, orientation and other nonacademic activities that target specific groups -- such as those for African Americans, Latinos and gay and lesbian students -- divide campuses and are largely "foreign" to California residents.

"I think when we go against inclusion, we sever ourselves a little bit more from the rest of the state," he told the regents.

Regent Odessa Johnson dismissed Connerly's notion that the activities are divisive, saying she had attended her daughter's graduation celebration for African American students at UCLA and that the event was "colorful and memorable."

"If you have never attended one of these, then you probably don't understand," Johnson said. "These ethnic celebrations are not just for one group. Anyone can come and they do."

A small but vocal contingent of students called on Connerly to resign and also urged the regents to seek his resignation. None who spoke publicly favored Connerly's measure.

"He has no place using the UC regents to attack civil rights," said Tania Kappner, a student organizer who supports affirmative action. "If you want any legitimacy in this body, you should vote to call for his resignation."

"This is in total disregard to the holistic approach that UC should be taking toward students," said Nathan Thomas, a UC Davis student.

Students say the special graduation ceremonies aren't exclusive and often feature cultural performances and multiple languages for family members who don't speak English. They argue that ceremonies highlighting the achievements of underrepresented students are inspirational to other minorities who might view UC as unwelcoming.

Some argued that Connerly's proposal would also have threatened programs to recruit and retain minority students. But Connerly insists that his plan only called for a halt in financial support for nonacademic activities.

UC officials said they do not directly fund separate graduation and orientation events for minority students. Instead, the university provides money to organized student groups -- some are based on race, ethnicity and sexual orientation -- which can use a portion of their funding for the special activities.