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“As someone who stood on the steps of the Supreme Court and celebrated a ruling in favor of affirmative action in our admissions policies ... it is a step we take with regret and caution,” Coleman said during a symposium in Ann Arbor on Jan. 12, 2007. In June 2003, the high court upheld a general affirmative action policy at Michigan's law school but struck down the university's undergraduate formula, which awarded admission points based on race.
Although Proposal 2 limits Michigan in some ways, Coleman told the Detroit Free Press that the university would “honor all of our existing financial aid commitments to all students.”
University spokeswoman Julie Peterson has said the school does not plan to initiate any additional challenges to Proposal 2 but will defend itself in any lawsuits brought against it.
The Ann Arbor school, along with Wayne State University and Michigan State University, had sought more time to make the switch to admissions or financial aid systems that do not grant preferential treatment based on race or sex.
Coleman pointed out some things that are allowable that will continue to promote diversity. They include the use of more than 50 criteria when reviewing applications, and outreach programs, such as a federally funded initiative to increase the number of minority graduates in science, technology, math and engineering.
Wayne State on Thursday will hold a public forum in Detroit on the impact of Proposal 2 and the state of civil rights in Michigan.
Information from: Detroit Free Press, http://www.freep.com
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