Students voice concern that DOJ investigation will further marginalize minority groups By CHETALI JAIN Summer Daily News Editor Last Monday, The New York Times uncovered the Trump administration’s intentions to fun- nel Justice Department resources into examining and potentially fil- ing lawsuits against colleges and universities who take racial back- ground into consideration when making admissions decisions. Mil- lions were left wondering what effect the investigation and pros- ecution would have on students who come from underprivileged backgrounds. Such considerations, or affirma- tive action policies, were originally meant to level the playing field for disadvantaged applicants. Sup- porters of affirmative action state such policies are meant to take into account the access an individual has to resources that make them a stronger college applicant. They would argue that groups such as African Americans and women who have historically been exclud- ed from U.S. society are given a fair opportunity to succeed while opponents believe it fosters reverse racism. Though the U.S. Supreme Court deemed it constitutional for race to be a factor in admissions decisions, eight states have banned this con- sideration, Michigan included. According to Kim Broekhuizen, University of Michigan spokes- woman, the University will con- tinue to watch for developments in the matter. “As always, the University fol- lows all applicable state and federal laws,” Broekhuizen wrote in an email. Despite the legal restriction of affirmative action policies at the University under Proposal 2, a measure which bans Michigan col- leges from using race as a factor in their admissions decisions, minor- ity students like recent University alum Will Royster still live in a reality where they face unfounded assumptions regarding their place on campus. In an interview, Royster recalled how his identity as a Black male often caused people to question his intelligence and his reason for being at the University. Royster studied mathematics and African American studies during his time on campus and tutored other stu- dents in mathematics. “People will naturally think I’m an athlete …(they) think I’m an athlete because I’m black and I go to the University of Michigan,” Royster said. “Or it’s constant probes about (my) intelligence … even when I was in the Engineer- ing school, there would be times when people didn’t want to be in my group for a project not know- ing that I had one of the highest grades in the class. Plenty of times I’m in my math class and I get A’s … and people didn’t want to be in my group. When I (tutor) someone that is of a more privileged identi- ty … and I show him how to get the answer, and I was able to success- fully do this, it’s a startling thing (for him).” Other students and faculty members have also been affect- ed by the controversial topic of affirmative action; this past win- ter semester, 950 maize and blue chairs were placed in the Diag to signify the students from minority backgrounds who wouldn’t attend the University due to Proposal 2. Postdoctoral fellow Austin McCoy studies racial justice. In a message, he said the proposed investigation contradicts the real- ity of race in admissions. “The DOJ’s proposal to inves- tigate colleges’ and universities’ affirmative action policies are based in a faulty assumption that race conscious forms of redress have a disparate impact on white Americans as a group,” he wrote. “This faulty assumption belies the fact, at least in the context of UM before the passage of Proposal 2, that white students tend to enjoy a higher rate of acceptance and admission despite race-based affirmative action policies.” Public Policy junior Lauren Schandevel, public relations chair of College Democrats and a col- umnist for the Daily, said the plans to look into intentional race-based discrimination will only hurt diversity and underprivileged stu- dents. “Trump’s assertion that white people are disadvantaged by affir- mative action policies is absurd and damaging to students of color, who already feel alienated by pri- marily white institutions,” Schan- devel said. Conversely, Amanda Dele- kta, who is the vice president of internal affairs for the University chapter of College Republicans, believes it is not the responsibility of colleges to make considerations regarding a student’s background during the admissions process. In an email, she explained she feels that applicants should be select- ed based on merit alone and that admission policies that take into account race are unjust. “Affirmative action policies at col- leges and universities are inherently 2 Thursday, August 10, 2017 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com NEWS University community reacts to Justice Department’s affirmative action report 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1327 www.michigandaily.com JUEUI HONG Business Manager 734-418-4115 ext. 1241 jueuih@michigandaily.com EDITORIAL STAFF Dayton Hare Managing Editor haredayt@michigandaily.com Jennifer Meer Managing News Editor news@michigandaily.com SENIOR NEWS EDITORS: Andrew Hiyama, Chetali Jain and Dylan LaCroix Sarah Khan Editorial Page Editor tothedaily@michigandaily.com Jacob Shames Managing Sports Editor sportseditors@michigandaily.com Will Stewart Managing Arts Editor arts@michigandaily.com SENIOR ARTS EDITOR: Dom Polsinelli Alexis Rankin and Max Kuang Managing Photo Editors photo@michigandaily.com Michelle Phillips Managing Design Editor design@michigandaily.com Emily Miiller Managing Copy Editor copydesk@michigandaily.com SENIOR COPY EDITOR: Ashley Woonton Christian Paneda Managing MiC Editor michiganincolor@michigandaily.com Abe Lofy Managing Video Editor video@michigandaily.com Ishan Vashinta Managing Web Editor ivashi@michigandaily.com Ellie Homant Managing Social Media Editor CONTACT INFORMATION Newsroom Office hours: Sun.-Thurs. 11 a.m. - 2 a.m. 734-763-2459 opt.3 News Tips news@michigandaily.com Corrections corrections@michigandaily.com Letters to the Editor tothedaily@michigandaily.com or visit michigandaily.com/letters Photo Department photo@michigandaily.com Arts Section arts@michigandaily.com Editorial Page opinion@michigandaily.com Sports Section sports@michigandaily.com Magazine statement@michigandaily.com Advertising Phone: 734-418-4115 Department dailydisplay@gmail.com The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-967) is published every Thursday during the spring and summer terms by students at the University of Michigan. 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