2 - The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, June 24, 2003 THE UNIVERSITY REACTS Heanng decision, emotional Coleman proclaims victory By Jennifer Misthal higher learning to use the Law School's Daily News Editor admissions as a "road map" to model their "It's very emotional. It's future policies. importa~ent for all of higher WASHINGTON - Rushing into the Searching for words to best describe the t fo a g cafeteria of the Supreme Court, communi- wave of emotions overtaking her, Coleman education." catsons T'-rt. Attsony -t11t-1ng - casters -ut -appeare --'-verwt1e-me-2 cations Prof. Anthony Collings called out "we've won, we've won" to University President Mary Sue Coleman, standing alone at a long table yesterday morning. Except for a gold 'M' pin on her green sweater, Coleman's presence was incon- spicuous.With no cellular phone service, and thus no way to get in contact with Uni- versity officials in Ann Arbor, Coleman was left with no choice but to wait among the masses for the court's decision. All trace of uneasiness vanished from her face as she listened to Collings abbrevi- ate the decisions. Just moments before, Coleman looked anxious as she waited for word on the court's decisions regarding the two lawsuits that challenged the Universi- ty's use of race in its admissions policies. "It's just wonderful," Coleman said, her hand on her chest. "We've held the Law School. It's really important - not just for Michigan but for everybody." Emerging from the court shortly after, the bombastic pride Coleman exuded was like students and alumni after a winning football game. Coleman hailed the court for allowing both the University and other institutions of appeared overwhelmed. "It's very emotional. It's important for all of higher education," Coleman said. She added that as long as race can continue to be used in admissions policies, the Univer- sity has triumphed after six years of court battles that have amounted to nearly nine million dollars in legal fees for the Uni- versity, which will thankfully be covered by its insurance. Although filed against Coleman's prede- cessor, Lee Bollinger, Coleman's excite- ment appeared personal. At times, she seemed close to tears, suggesting that in the 10 months since she began her tenure as president, she has become devoted to the diversity and ideologies embodied by the University. "We believe that it extends far beyond these admissions. We believe it extends to financial aid, to academic support pro- grams, to outreach programs, to leadership programs. We believe that ultimately, it will have an impact on corporate America - what they do in their affirmative action hir- ing, This is a huge, huge victory," she said. Despite the fact that the court struck - Mary Sue Coleman University president down the current undergraduate admissions guidelines, Coleman emphasized it is not necessary to go "all the way back to the drawing board." "The court has provided two important signals. The first is a green light to pur- sue racial and ethnic diversity in the col- lege classroom. The second is a pathway to get us there," Coleman said in an e- mail to the student body. With a "road map" in place, Coleman said revamping the University's undergrad- uate policies will not be challenging in the coming months. Optimistic, Coleman expects new guidelines to be in place as the University begins receiving applica- tions this fall. The class of 2007 will not only be as diverse as years past, Coleman said, but also - in accordance with the court's deci- sion - there will be more individualized attention focused on the estimated 25,000 applicants applying for admissions. AP PH University President Mary Sue Coleman stands In front of the U.S. Supreme Court following hYesterday's decision. The Supreme Court upheld the use of race as a factor In college admissions. Coleman expects little difficulty in making new policy. tColumbia University considers today's ruling by the Supreme Court a huge vic- tory for the future of American education and society. The Court has upheld the rights of universities to consider race as a factor in assembling a diverse student 'body. Columbia has a long-standing 'commitment to diversity and we are glad that the Court has affirmed its impor- tance and the educational benefits that "flow from a diverse student body. We will continue to pursue admissions poli- -Gies that better prepare all students for the increasingly diverse workplace and society in which we live. -FormerLaw School Dean and Uni- -versity President Lee Bollinger, now president of Columbia University, in a 'written statement. Although the U.S. Supreme Court ruled only one of the Uni- versity's two admissions policies constitutional yesterday, University President Mary Sue Coleman said she is "very gratified" by the deci- sion and that she was confident that the University can rewrite the College of Literature, Science and the Arts' admissions policy. "This is a tremendous victory for the University of Michigan, for all of higher education, and for the hundreds of groups and individu- als who supported us," Coleman said in a written statement, refer- ring to the numerous corporations, law organizations and former mili- tary officers who filed briefs sup- porting the University. By approving the Law School policy, the court has validated the principle of using racial plus fac- tors to create a diverse student body, and in doing so come down with a landmark decision, Coleman said. "This is a resounding affirmation that will be heard across the land," she said. "Year after year, our student body proves it and now the court has affirmed it - our diversity is our strength." At the same time, six justices voted to overturn the LSA policy, leaving the University with the daunting task of rewriting a policy that administrators have said processes about 25,000 applica- tions a year. But if Coleman was worried at all, she did not show her anxiety yesterday, instead saying that administrators "don't anticipate much difficulty" in crafting a new policy that uses race in compliance with the ruling. "Make no mistake - we will find the route that continues our commit- ment to a richly diverse student body," she said. "We think we can do that by the fall season. The court has told us they want a more individualized approach, and they've given us a road map." Other University administrators echoed Coleman's jubilant statements. "The Court's decision leaves no more doubt that students at the University of Michigan and col- leges across the country will have the opportunity to live and learn on richly diverse campuses," Universi- ty General Counsel Marvin Krislov said in a news release. "Our nation's prosperity and national security will be strength- ened by today's decision." Both LSA Dean Terrence McDonald and Law School Associ- ate Dean Evan Caminker, who is slated to become the next Law School dean, said the University will succeed in re-writing the LSA policy to comply with the court ruling and still use racial plus factors. "We will put to work some of the brightest minds and most motivated people in the country, and the result, I am sure, will continue to be a model for all of higher edu- cation," McDonald said. The burden of individually reviewing all the applications LSA receives means rewriting the policy "will take some creative thinking and administrative resources," but will not be an insurmountable task, Caminker said. But with the principle of race- conscious admissions being upheld and a road map for such policies provided, outgoing Law School Dean Jeffrey Lehman said "the question is no longer whether affir- mative action is legal, it is how to hasten the day when affirmative action is no longer needed." According to the majority opin- ion in the Law School case written by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the court expects that day to be within 25 years. Administrators said by then, they hope race-conscious admissions will no longer be necessary, but they questioned whether the 25-year clause is a defini- tive deadline. "I don't see the 25 years as a morato- rium," Caminker said. He added that O'Connor based the deadline on the fact that 25 years earlier the court announced its ruling in Regents of the Univer- sity of California v. Bakke, which banned the use of racial quotas but permitted the use of race as one of many admissions factors. Although Terrence Pell, president of the Center for Individual Rights which represented the plaintiffs in the cases, said the rulings mark the beginning of a "trend downward" and that voters will pass state laws banning race-conscious admissions, Caminker said he hopes the University will lead the fight to preserve such policies. "My hope would be that states would be moved by the fact that the Supreme Court had affirmed the principles of Bakke,"he said. The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-967) is published Mondayfthrough Friday during the fall and winter terms by students at the University of Michigan. One copy is available free of charge to all readers. Additional copies may be picked up at the Daily's office for $2. Subscriptions for fall term, starting in September, via U.S. mail are $105. Winter term (January through April) is $110, yearlong (September through April) is $190. University affiliates are subject to a reduced subscription rate. Ors-campus subscriptions for fall term are $35. Subscrip- tions must be prepaid. The Michigan Daily is a member of The Associated Press and The Associated collegiate Press. ADDRESS: The Michigan Daily, 420 Maynard St., Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1327. PHONE NUMBERS (All area code 734): News/Sports/Opinion 76-DAILY; Arts 763-0379; circulation 764- 0558; classified advertising 764-0557; Display advertising 764-0554; Billing 764-0550. Faculty looks with questions, concerns to future use of race in admissions By AbdurRahman Pasha ahd Karen Schwartz Daily Staff Reporters :Despite the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in 'avor of diversity as a compelling state interest, 'gome faculty members have hesitations about its effect and implications in higher education. Philosophy Prof. Carl Cohen said the continued -ue of race in admissions is less of a victory than if might seem. "I regret the fact that the categories of race have not been completely rejected by the court. I look for- ward to the day when advantages and disadvantages -On the basis of skis color are gone, are no longer effective in our country. Someday that will happen, 'ad I hope it will be soon," he said. Cohen spoke of the need for the country to tran- *aend the categories of race and skin color to bring about a more equal society. - "Racial discrimination is wrong, it has always -been wrong, it is wrong still. Equal protection of the laws protect everyone whether they are white or black or green or blue, and my hope is that that will be made more effective in the years ahead," he said. He added that while the court's decision is a victory for the University, it was won on the principle that the diversification of the incoming dass is an educational benefit of great impor- tance, and that race may continue to be used but only in that narrow context. "These decisions do not at all refer to compensa- tory arguments or remediation or leveling the playing field, all of that has been put aside, it was put aside in Bakke and has been put aside again," he said. "It is a justification of race only for the narrow purposes of increasing the educational benefits in the Law School, that's all." Rackham Dean Earl Lewis said the Supreme Court rightfully recognized the continuing impor- tance of race in American society, in that it is still a compelling state interest. "This is a step towards a race-neutral society, this is different than being color-blind. I don't know if we will ever live in a color-blind society, but a race-neutral society - where one's position in life does not depend on his or her race - is preferable," Lewis said. Lewis added that in addition to inspiring national debate over affirmative action, the law- suits demonstrated that current University admissions policies are in accordance with the Bakke decision of 1978. "The impact of this ruling is immediate. It tells the educational community that what we have been doing since 1978 is constitutional," Lewis said. He added that the Supreme Court's ruling does not spell the end of the affirmative action debate. "Some who have challenged these practices will continue to challenge them. The opponents of affir- mative action will not go away, they will retool and redirect their energies," Lewis said. The ruling was important, said Center for African and African-American Studies lecturer Nesha Haniff, but there's more to be done. "The ruling was fair in the context of a conserva- tive court and administration, but the ruling did not move us any further than Bakke." She said race will remain a factor in the near future, and that society needs to take more active steps towards resolving the root of the problem. "Race relations are not improved by court rulings, but by the environments that court rulings set up. Race relations are decided by certain government policies - for example those dealing with the mili- tary, the school system, poverty - not just affirma- tive action, and these government policies are, indirectly, racist in nature." Vincent Hutchings, political science assistant pro- fessor and research associate for the Center for Polit- ical Studies, said he is worried about the future of race-conscious admissions. "The political right will continue to seek ways to diminish and undermine affirmative action ... they won't take it laying down." He said he is also concerned about the way the restructuring of the undergraduate admissions sys- tem without a point system will affect the ability of LSA to achieve a diverse environment. "I thought the point system was fine, but more importantly I'm interested in maintaining a racially diverse intellectual environment," Hutchings said. Adam Rosen, Erin Saylor, Maria Sprow, Dan Trudeau, Tinsta Van T ine, Ryan Vicko, Samantha Wol, in Kyung loon OPINION Jason Pesick, Editor STAFF: Ben Bass, Aryeh Friedman, Bonnie Kellman, Rachel Kennett, Sowmya Krishnamurthy, Garrett Lee, Joey Litman, Christopher Miller, Suhael tMon, APaul, Laura Platt, Adam Rottenberg, Ben Royal, Lauren Strayer, Jennifer Sun, Courtney Taymour, Joseph Torigian, Joe Zanger-Nadis, CARTOONISTS: Sam Butler, Joel Hoard, Scott Serilla COLMNISTS:tane lAats, PeterCunnife, Davd nders,Johanna Hanink,Aubrey Henretty,David Horn, AymarJean,ZacPeskowitz, Hussain astim, octzashicfaaSheikh, Luke Smtht SPORTS Gennaro Fliue,, J. Brady McCollough, Managing Editors SENIOR EDITORS: Chris Burke, Josh Holmans, Courtney Lewis, Michael Nisson, Kyle O'Neill, Brian Schick, Naweed Sikora STAH GasddcNemaa l, eremyAntarEricAs bdeChcs Amos,WaldemarCenteno,EricChan, MustafizurChoudhury,ianHerbert, David Horn, Steve Jackson, Brad Johnson, Melanie Kebler, Albert Kim, Seth Klempner, Megan Kolodgy,Matt Kramer, Kevin Maratea, Jule Master, Shared Mattu, Ellen McGarrity, Charles Paradis, Jeff Phillips,lJake Rosenwasser, Steven Shears,Nicole Stanton, Joe Smith, Mike Woking ARTS Joel Hoard, Todd Weiser, Managing Editors EDIfORS: asoe Raberts,Sc Sesrila WEEKEND MAGAZINE EDITORS: Charles Paradis, Rebecca Ramsey SUBEDITORS: Kate Meates, Joaaainke, RyancewissSaacPaeesn STFS Mae KeBrard, ta Bllk nRyat slay, bas bably, eff Dickerson, Andrew M. Gaerig, Meredith Graupner, Lynn Hasselbarth, Laura Haber, Stephanie Kapera, Graham Kelly, Jeremy Kressmann, Christine Lasek, John Laughlin, Joseph Litman, Laura LoGerfo, Zach Mabee, Maureen McKinney, Josh Neidus, Jared Newman, Caitlin Nish, James Pfent, Archana Ravi, Adam Rottenberg, Melissa Runstrom, Mike Saitsman, Niamh Slevin, Christian Smith, Luke Smith, Jaya Soni, Brian Stephens, Andy Taylor-Fabe, Douglas Wernert, Alex Wosky, DanieltYowell PHOTO Tony Ding, Seth Lower, Brett Mountain, Managing Editors ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Ells. Bergman, Bredan ODoanell, AlysaWeed CAcoasAto, Else e rgmanasC , seya rpe, vdK DannMoloshok,LisaOshinsky,Sarah Paup, Frank Payne, Rebecca Sahn, Nicole Terwilliger, Jonathon Triest, Ryan Weiner ONLINE Geoffrey Fink, Managing Editor EDITOR: Ashley Jardina STAFF: Jenne Hutz, Mira Levitan BUSINESS STAFF Jeffrey Valuck, Business Manager DISPLAY SALES Julie Lee, Manager STAFF: Ben Blandford, Jeff Braun, Lynne Chaimowitz, Tera Freeman, Sarah Hoopfer, Ahrim Hwang, Kyungmin ang, Erin Ott, Lindsay Pudavick, Ari Tran SPECIAL SECTIONS MANAGER Julie Lee CLASSIFIED SALES Lindsey Scott, Manager ADVERTISING DESIGN Adrienne Barclay, Manager I