COLUMBIA'S NEW PRESIDENT The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, October 3, 2001- 3 Bollinger known for affirmative action defense By Anna Clark Daily StaffReporter From recruiting public support of national figures to personally testifying, Lee Bollinger has played an active role in the University's defense of its affirmative action admissions policies. Just months after Bollinger was selected as president in 1996, the University was chal- lenged with two lawsuits against the race-sensi- five admissions policies of the University's Law School and College of Literature, Science and the Arts. Bollinger, who has served both as a professor and dean of the University's Law School and who has shown his dedication to affirmative action policies, immediately became a vocal supporter of the University's admissions poli- cies, and, in the four years since the initiation of the lawsuits, has seen both cases through the district court level. "We could not have a better policy more con- sistent with Bakke," Bollinger said, referring to the 1978 Supreme Court case earlier this year, Bakke v. Regents of the University of California, which allowed the use of race as a "plus factor" in public institutions. Standing behind that philosophy, Bollinger selected an esteemed Washington-based law firm, Wilmer, Cutler and Pickering, to build a case for the University. He also actively recruited national statements of support from University alum. former Presi- dent Gerald Ford, former Michigan Gov. William Millikin and General Motors. Bollinger said the efforts were to demon- strate the greater effects of affirmative action in higher education. The University declared the district court decision in the LSA case a victory. Judge Patrick Duggan ruled last December that the use of race as one of many factors in college and university admissions was a compelling state interest, though he struck down the admis- sions system that was in place when the lawsuit was filed. But the University's defense of its race-sensi- tive admissions policies did not stand up to Judge Bernard Friedman's decision in the case challenging the Law School. Friedman in March ruled that race could not be considered as a factor for admissions in higher education. Both cases are scheduled to be heard on appeal in the 6th Circuit Court in Cincinnati later this month. It has been speculated that the cases could ultimately wind up in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. Bollinger said the decisions are important to many facets of society. "Every selective university in the United States is committed to this, but this is not just an issue of higher education," Bollinger said. "These statements showed it was important on many different levels." His support became a part of the court record when Bollinger testified in the Law School trial in late January. He spoke to the court from the perspective of his former position as dean of the University's Law School. University Law and sociology Prof. Richard Lempert, who also testified in the Law School trial, said Bollinger was key in creating a signif- icant defense. "On one level it was Lee's commitment to the University to build a defense for both cases, and pushing the regents to go after it," Lempert said. "Thanks to his leadership, I feel we pre- sented the best defense of affirmative action policies of any other institution in the country." University Regent Larry Deitch (D-Bloom- field Hills) echoed Lempert's sentiment. "We at Michigan have made the best case in the merits of affirmative action," Deitch said. Bollinger has "done a brilliant job in defending the admissions policies" Bollinger's vocal support earned him nation- al recognition from academic and legal leaders, but some noticed his tendency to speak out before the lawsuits even occurred. "I believe strongly that presidents should speak out," former University President James Duderstadt said soon after Bollinger was selected to succeed him. "That is what higher education needs right now. People of deep conviction and courage. Lee Bollinger has both of these." Despite the University's strong defense, the campus wasn't entirely behind Bollinger in support of the admissions policies. The anti- affirmative action student group Voice united student opponents of the policy. RC philosophy Prof. Carl Cohen, an oppo- nent of race-based admissions, said last semes- ter that he was working to set up a debate with Bollinger over the admissions policies. Other students questioned Bollinger's com- mitment to an integrated campus when, despite the University's legal support, different racial groups continue to self-segregate. Bollinger has maintained his position. "Nobody believes this institution has done everything it can to take advantage of diversity, but we're trying," Bollinger told students con- cerned about self-segregation at a fireside chat in fall 2000. "The will is there." Although the next president will come into the continuing appeals process in both lawsuits, Lempert said he did not think the University's defense will lose its focus. "So long as the regents and the University remain committed, I don't think a new leader will have any effect," Lempert said. FILE PHOTO After defending the use of race as a factor in admissions to the University's College of Literature, Science and the Arts, Bollinger's name became universally known in the academic world. Life Sciences Initiative has flourished in recent years By Anna Clark Daily Staff Reporter The steel skeleton of a building between the Hill and Central Campus is evidence of the Life Sciences Institute's early con- struction, the biggest initiative of University President Lee Bollinger's tenure. With Bollinger's acceptance of the Columbia University presi- dency, the initiative will now need to function without the fer- vent support from its founder as it begins to take physical shape. LSI co-Director Jack Dixon said Bollinger played "a pivotal role" and was "an ardent proponent" of both the Life Sciences Initiative and the Life Sciences Institute. He said the president's enthusiasm will be missed, but that the loss won't be paralyzing. "His departure will obviously take a little air out the balloon, because he was such a strong supporter of it," Dixon said. "But I don't think it will change our course." He added that the next University president will have an important role in the LSI's future. "We answer to the president, so the president will be a key player," he said. "But we're far enough along to not get side- tracked." University Law Prof: Richard Lempert, head of the LSI's Val- FILE PHOTO ues and Ethics commission, said he expects the next president to e show support for the LSI. uilding. "Although it depends on the person selected, of course, I /%expect the person who replaces Lee will see how the LSI is becoming a major force at the University," Lempert said. . University Regent Larry Deitch (D-Bloo'mfield Hills) said the LSI never would have happened without Bollinger's advocacy. "It was his idea," Deitch said last spring. "He knew how important science was, that research into science was kind of a new frontier, akin to computers and technology a few years ago." Lempert noted how Bollinger has' been a "driving force" behind the LSI. "I think he was crucial in getting the directors to agree to serve," Lempert said, adding that Bollinger traveled across the nation to meet with leading life science researchers to "pick their brains and make all sorts of connections." Deitch added that he was surprised at Bollinger's focus on the LSI, given the president's background in law and humanities. Dixon echoed Deitch's observation. "I give him a great deal of credit," Dixon said. "His back- ground is in law, but he educated himself in a great way." Dixon sgid Bollinger, along with other University administra- tors including former Provost Nancy Cantor and Vice-President for Medical Affairs Gil Omenn, met widely with University fac- ulty and researchers to focus the LSI effort. Bollinger, at a fireside chat with University students last win- ter, said he looks forward to the LSI's physical and nonphysical transformations of the campus. "We hired the best architects in the world," Bollinger said, "And I believe the humanistic implications of this are incredible. I mean this in every dimension." Construction on Central Campus began in 2000, focusing mainly on the renovation of Haven Hall, th creation of the Life Sciences Institute and most recently the renovation of the Horace H. Rackham B 19 'd Bollinger led in era ot construction, progress By Susan Luth Daily Staff Reporter When Lee. Bollinger became president of the University in 1997, the Central and Med- ical campuses were not closely connected and many buildings were in dire need of renova- tions. It was at this time, less than a year after his inauguration, that Bollinger announced his "master plan." Bollinger said at the time that his plan was intended "to conceive of our campus as a whole and consider its place in the larger Ann Arbor community and to look at things for the future -- for a hundred years from now - to consider what our University campus might be like, what its character should be." Four and a half years later, students are still surrounded by cranes, fences, and rubble as Bollinger's dream is built. The renovation of Mason and Haven halls has left the area around the Diag in ruins. Thousands of students are rerouted on their walk to class by fencing separating them from construction equipment. Once finished, the renovation will add eight stories to Haven Hall and give it a completely new interior. Haven Hall 'is expected to be completed- in November 2002, while Mason is slated for June 2003. "I think Haven Hall will be interesting because it will keep the characteristics of the Fishbowl but still expand Haven," Associate Vice President of Facilities and Operations Hank Baier said earlier this year. "With the renovation it will be not only a modern build- ing but it will enhance the whole Diag." But now some of the biggest parts of the _ -1-- .x,:11 . hn1,;+ - t n tR nl n t The plan is "to conceive of our campus as a whole and consider its place in the larger Ann Arbor community and to look at things for the future" - Lee C. Bollinger University President vated parking structure will create more than 1,000 parking spaces. "Bollinger got the Life Sciences commis- sion going. It's a really intense effort to expand life sciences at U-M," said Baier. "The main drama center will house the Arthur Miller Theater so we can combine the life sciences witk drama."' Baier also said that the project was intend- ed to unite the Medical Campus with Central Campus, and create a central meeting place for the two. Its creation will also include a plaza, from which students can access the walking bridge that runs over Washtenaw Avenue, further connecting the two parts of campus. Also'on Bollinger's renovation agenda are Hill Auditorium and the Rackham School of Graduate Studies. The renovations to Hill include an upgrade of the infrastructure and improvements in the building's functionality. Rorkhnm will unAro renovations to rework FILE PHOTO Bollinger's first new athletic director, Tom Goss, fired men's basketball coach Steve Fisher but wasn't able to fix problems plaguing the program. Goss wasn't answer to athletic woes By Jacquelyn Nixon Daily Staff Reporter The problems in the Michigan Athletic Department and the resignation of Athlet- ic Director Tom Goss in the winter of 2000 remain a black mark on Lee Bollinger's administration. Goss gave no reason for his resignation,- leading many to suspect his handling of finances in the department, deals with department, especially for the developments made in the women's sports programs. But Gossfunderwent scrutiny from his colleagues after hiring Brian Ellerbe as the men's basketball coach. "To change the program was my deci- sion. To hire a new coach will be my deci- sion," Goss said. Former Executive Associate Athletic Director Fritz Seyferth said everything million off the original projection. Goss was also responsible for the S 100,000 removal of the halo surrounding Michigan Stadium, the fallout of an inter- net service deal, and suffered from a pub- lic backlash because of a rise in hockey and football ticket prices. Lack of communication with University officials was also suspected as a reason for his resignation.