Nguyen, however, defended the U.C. system's 1995 decision to implement a race-blind admissions process.
"University administrators [before the ban] admitted to using race not as a factor, but as the determining factor, knowing that it was illegal and unconstitutional but also immoral," he said. "All applicants need to know that they're going to be treated equally regarded of their race or creed."
Nguyen said he doubted Bagley's effort to rescind the 1995 decision would prevail.
"We don't believe it will be successful because the voters of California have spoken when they ratified the decision in the form of their approval of [the measure banning affirmative action]," Nguyen said.
"Quite honestly, the university community has learned to move on to try other ways to help diversity besides preference," he said.