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U-M leaders will update campus on admissions lawsuitsU-M leaders and legal counsel will present an update on the status of two lawsuits that have been filed over University admissions practices from 4–6 p.m. Sept. 18 in the Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre, Michigan League. The lawsuits, Gratz v. Bollinger, et.al. (regarding undergraduate admissions in LS&A) and Grutter v. Bollinger, et.al. (regarding Law School admissions) challenge the consideration of race as one of many factors employed to create a diverse learning environment. Important developments have occurred during the 2002 summertime hiatus. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision in May supporting the University’s Law School admissions policies in the Grutter case. The Center for Individual Rights (CIR), which filed the two lawsuits in fall 1997, has appealed that decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. The University’s response to CIR’s petition will be filed with the Supreme Court shortly. The case involving undergraduate admissions was decided in the University’s favor on summary judgment in federal district court in Dec. 2000. The 6th Circuit has heard an appeal but has not yet issued a decision. During the Sept. 18 event, U-M President Mary Sue Coleman will discuss her views on affirmative action and the University’s commitment to a diverse campus. Marvin Krislov, vice president and general counsel, will moderate two panels in a discussion of developments that have taken place in these cases during the summer months. Panelists also will provide information on the philosophy behind the University’s admissions practices, the history of the lawsuits and the legal landscape for affirmative action across the country. The program will follow a question-and-answer format, and audience members will have an opportunity to ask questions at the end. Panelists are: Paul N. Courant, interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs; Jeffrey S. Lehman, Law School dean; Saul A. Green, president, U-M Alumni Association, and senior counsel with Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone; Monique Luse, president of the student government in LS&A; John Payton, attorney with Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering and a member of the U-M legal team; Maureen Mahoney, attorney with Latham & Watkins and a member of the U-M legal team; and Ted Shaw, associate director and counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and attorney for the intervenors in Gratz v. Bollinger. The program is free and open to the public. It also will be broadcast live on the Web at www.umich.edu and on UMTV, available on the campus cable TV system and locally in Ann Arbor on Comcast Channel 22. Rebroadcasts of the event will be presented on Michigan Radio (WUOM, 91.7 FM; WFUM, 91.1 FM; WVGR, 104.1 FM) on Sept. 19 at 8 p.m.; and on UMTV Sept. 20 at 8 p.m., Sept. 22 at 6 p.m., Sept. 24 at 8 p.m., Sept. 26 at 6:30 p.m., Sept. 30 at 7 p.m., and Oct. 2 at 8 p.m. The webcast will be archived and available for viewing at http://www.umich.edu/~urel/admissions/faqs/. Additional information about the lawsuits is available online at www.umich.edu/~urel/admissions/. Contact Deborah Greene at greenedm@umich.edu for further details about the Sept. 18 event.
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