"when I was in grad school, there was a big stink at Berkeley when they tried to limit the enrolment of asians to something like 30%. 30% represents a much proportion than found the general population of California. Cries of "quota" were raised and the idea died.

"I know someone who got an NSF minorities grant (do they still do that?). She has a Ph.D. It would be hard for someone who was awarded a standard NSF who left without a degree to complain about that."

I'm afraid I can't follow your grammar or your argument.