TODAY: January 1, 2003 ©2003 The Michigan Daily Ann Arbor, Michigan Vol. CXIII, No. 75 One-hundred-twelve years of editorialfreedom Mostly cloudy throughout the day and into the night with winds from the north- west. 1T 2 www.michigandailycom ----------- 'FU E T LY F I L Bush voices oposition to 'U' olicies, declares support or diversity By Jeremy Berkowitz Daily Staff Reporter Charging that the University's race-con- scious admissions policies are "fundamentally flawed and amount to a quota system," Presi- dent Bush announced his administration will file a brief with the U. S. Supreme Court today, opposing the University's position in two pivotal lawsuits before the Court. The brief is an amicus, or "friend of the court," brief, which is filed by an individual or organization that is not affiliated with the case but would like to inform the Court of their opinion. The lawsuits - Gratz v. Bollinger, challeng- ing LSA admissions policies and Grutter v. Bollinger, challenging Law School policies - have been moving through the court system for the past five years. Last month, the Court agreed to hear the two cases during its current term. In his speech, Bush acknowledged that racial prejudice still exists in the United States and that it is important to provide diversity in higher education. But he drew the line at the University's policies, which he said use an unfair quota system. "University officials have the responsibility and the obligation to make a serious effective effort to reach out to students from all walks of life without falling back on unconstitutional quotas," Bush said in his address from the White House Roosevelt Room. He described the specific policies used by LSA and the Law School, saying the 20 points added to a minority applicant's score is "often the decisive factor" in admissions. He also claimed the Law School admitted students to meet percentage targets while passing over stu- dents who have higher grades and test scores. "Students are being selected or rejected based primarily on the color of their skin. The motivation for such an admissions policy may be very good, but its result is discrimination, and that discrimination is wrong," Bush added. University President Mary Sue Coleman said in a written statement she was disappoint- "We believe the Court will reaffirm its decision in (Regents of the University* of California v. Bakke) and find that the University of Michigan's admissions system is fair and legal under the Cons titution." - Mary Sue Coleman University president ed with Bush's lack of understanding of the University and how it benefits from diversity and its admission processes. "We do not have, and have never had, quotas or numerical targets in either the undergradu- ate or Law School admissions programs," Coleman said. "We believe the Court will reaf- firm its decision in (Regents of the University of California v. Bakke) and find that the Uni- versity of Michigan's admissions system is fair and legal under the Constitution." The Center for Individual Rights, a Wash- ington-based law firm representing the plain- tiffs, filed both suits against the University in 1997. CIR spokesman Curt Levey said while he is glad the president came out in support of the plaintiffs, he does not think it will be a decid- ing factor in the Court's decision. "We're going to win this because of the law and the facts and not because the president is on our side," Levey said. Several politicians said they oppose Bush's action, including U.S. Rep. John Dingell (D- See BUSH, Page 7A Inside: Students react to Bush's statement.Page3A President Bush makes remarks during a news conference yesterday in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, saying he plans to support they plaintiffs in the University admissions lawsuits. C-IR to file bn RI' wh 'upreCorttda By Tomislav Ladika Daily Staff Reporter Before the end of the day, the written case against the University's admission policies will be sent to the U.S. Supreme Court. As today's filing deadline approach- es, briefs from groups opposing the use of race in college admissions are pouring into the Court. Legal briefs will be filed today by the Center for Individual Rights, a Washington- based law firm representing the plaintiffs in Grutter v. Bollinger and Gratz v. Bollinger. The ON 1.RION Supreme Court is expected to hear oral ' arguments in late March or early April for the two cases, which chal- lenge the University's use of race as a factor in its admissions policies for its Law School and College of Literature, Science and the Arts, respectively. Curt Levey, director of legal and public affairs for CIR, said the firm's legal team will not make any major changes to the arguments it presented in the U.S. District Court and the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. Some arguments will be slanted differently, he said, but lawyers will still use the "two- pronged argument" which challenges the See BRIEF, Page 7A U' bans smoking in residence halls ,_ By Emily Kraack Daily Staff Reporter More students in residence halls may be stepping outside to light up when classes resume in Septem- ber. The Division of Student Affairs announced Tues- day that all residence halls will be smoke-free starting Sept. 1. Once the ban takes effect, Michigan State Univer- sity will be the only remaining Big Ten university to 9 allow smoking in its residence halls. "We confirm that we will move to entirely smoke- free dorms at the beginning of the 2003 school year," said University Housing spokesman Alan Levy. He said the restriction will apply to all residence halls but will not affect the Northwood Family Housing on North Campus. Smoking will be permitted in 16 per- cent of the Northwood apartments. About 5 percent of residence hall rooms currently allow smoking, Levy said. These rooms house 470 of the 9,400 students in the residence hall system. Levy said this will be the last step in the Universi- ty's drive - which began in 1994 - to slowly phase out smoking in campus buildings. Regulations have whittled down the number of public building and res- idence hall spaces where smoking is permitted. Health issues prompted the University's decision to crack down on smoking in residence halls, according to a written statement. The statement cited a study from the Harvard Uni- versity School of Public Health, which found that students are 40 percent less likely to begin smoking if they live in smoke-free residence halls. University Health Services Director Robert Win- field said in a written statement, "We know that some students come to campus as smokers and we want to be available to them in discontinuing their cigarette use." Winfield added that old ventilation systems, which circulate air from smoking rooms to non- 4 Tmqt t smoking rooms, pose health dangers to students with asthma or respiratory cgnditions and that cigarette smoking also poses a fire hazard in res- idence halls. The Residence Hall Association voted to sup- port the University's decision in November after extensive discussion surrounding student rights within their homes in the residence halls. Music sophomore Anup Aurora, an RHA represen- tative from Alice Lloyd Residence Hall, said he opposed thg move to smoke-free residence halls dur- ing the RHA debate. "To me, the University is based on freedom of choice and the decision to ban smoking takes away that choice," Aurora said. LSA sophomore Fernando Moura, an East Quad resident who smokes, said he also believes the ban would infringe on his personal rights. "They have designated spaces (in the residence halls) now, and See. SMOKING, Page 7A Famed femmist preaches peace By Maggie Adams and Soojung Chang Daily Staff Reporters Bell hooks, acclaimed feminist intellectual, cultural critic and writer, began her lecture yesterday in the Michigan Union Ballroom by offering her chair to one of many of the standing audience members in the packed auditorium. She spoke as part of the 16th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Symposium tak- ing place this month at the University.i Hooks touched upon a variety of current issues, including possible military action in Iraq, affirmative action, the media, the environment, militarism and Sept. 11, all of which she tied together with a message of non-violence in accordance with King's teachings. "I thought it was interesting how she covered all of the bases," LSA freshman Lorea Barturen said. "She intertwined' present world problems with her own values and beliefs." Hooks mentioned King's opposition of the Vietnam War, based on his view that the war exemplified imperialism, The HOOKS Pars Mcsm The Michigan bench reacts to a 3-point basket In the final minutes of the game against Ohio State. Michigan won 61-50. Win over Buckeyes makes it1 for Blue By Seth Klempner Daily Sports Writer COLUMBUS - At halftime of Ohio State's 81-60 win over No. 15 Indiana last weekend, the pride of Buckeye nation - the NCAA football national title trophy - was brought out as the 2002 Tournament championship banner was unfurled, sending the Value City Arena crowd into a frenzy and pro- pelling Ohio State to victory. Tnfortunatelv for the Buckeves no motivational tactic could lift them to a win over Michigan last night. The Wolverines recovered from first half struggles to defeat the defending Big Ten champions 61-50 and extend their winning streak to 10 games. For the first eight minutes of the con- test, it appeared the Buckeyes had kept their momentum going from the week- end as they jumped out to a 15-7 lead. Hurting the Wolverines even more than the eight-point deficit was the fact See BUCKEYES. Page 8A Writer and lecturer bell hooks speaks about a variety of current events during the Martin Luther King, Jr. vmnnaium in the Union Ballroom vesterday. L