Jose Machuca, 18, would like to see Hispanics who lack English skills given a little extra help getting into college.

But as for him, he wants to be treated like everyone else.

"I know English so I don't think I should get any special treatment," Machuca, who is Hispanic, said after hearing Monday of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that limited affirmative action policies are legal.

He plans to go to Bakersfield College in the fall and eventually transfer to Cal State Bakersfield or to a trade school.

Jed DuBose, a white 23-year-old Bakersfield College student, said racial and ethnic preferences should never be used.

"Your academic performance in previous years should speak for itself and (admissions) should absolutely not be based on any race or ethnic background," DuBose said. "As far as I'm concerned it should be a completely blind system."

He plans to transfer to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Public colleges and universities in California don't use racial or ethnic preferences in college admissions. Proposition 209 prohibits such treatment, and the Supreme Court ruling does not overrule 209, according to the Associated Press.

CSUB doesn't use race as a consideration in admissions but does have aggressive outreach programs aimed at certain ethnic, racial and economic groups.

"The groups assisted are low- income, first-generation college-goers as well as ethnic and racial minorities," said CSUB Provost Jim George on Monday. "Our region has such a low college participation rate that such programs are essential for the region's future development."

According to the Cal State Web site, CSUB's fall 2002 semester had 7,741 students enrolled who were classified as the following: 7.2 percent black; 5.6 percent Asian; 1.5 percent American Indian; 27.3 percent Mexican-American; 5.2 percent described as other Latino; 51 percent white; 2.1 percent described as non-resident alien; and 9.4 percent unknown.

Bakersfield College also doesn't use race or ethnicity in its admissions process.

"Basically certain classes would have prerequisites, like reading levels. That is the only factor that determines if a student can get into the class, besides it being full," said BC spokesman Juan Gutierrez.

Rep. Cal Dooley, D-Hanford, and Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Bakersfield, released statements Monday regarding the Supreme Court ruling.

"Every American, and every resident of the Central Valley, deserves the opportunity to reach for the American Dream and today's decision will help many Americans realize that dream," Dooley said in his statement.

Thomas said he supported equal access.

"I support the right of every American, regardless of racial or ethnic background, to have equal access to whatever level of education he or she sees as necessary to accomplish his or her life's goals," Thomas said in his statement.