In a controversial move yesterday President Bush announced his opposition to the University of Michigan's race-based admission policies, soon to be questioned before the Supreme Court.
Today the Bush administration will file a brief in support of two students challenging Michigan's affirmative action admission policy before the high court. Michigan awards bonus points toward admission to black, Hispanic and Native American perspective students.
"I strongly support diversity of all kinds, including racial diversity in higher education," Bush said. "But the method used by the University of Michigan to achieve this important goal is fundamentally flawed."
Bush said Michigan's policies "amount to a quota system," and violate the constitution.
The cases in question, Gratz v. Bollinger and Grutter v. Bollinger, allege that the two defendants, both white, were unconstitutionally discriminated against because of their race when they were not accepted at Michigan. Admissions policies award 20 extra points to minorities -- a fifth of the 100 points needed to earn admission. In contrast, a perfect SAT score earns a student 16 points.
Michigan defended its policy after Bush's announcement and expressed disappointment with his decision.
"I was pleased to hear President Bush say that diversity, and explicitly racial diversity, in our student bodies is very important for America's colleges and universities," University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman said in a statement. "Where we disagree is on the means available to achieve that diversity."
Coleman explained that she considers Michigan's policies fair and legal.
"It is unfortunate that the president misunderstands how our admissions process works at the University of Michigan," she said. "It is a complex process that takes many factors into account and considers the entire background of each student applicant, just as the President urged."
Coleman said Michigan expects many briefs to be filed on its behalf come February.
"We have received an outpouring of support from the nation's educators, the business and labor communities, the legal community and many others," she said. "Their voices will be raised as the case progresses."
After rumors of the president's decision made headlines, the American Civil Liberties Union, a major advocate of affirmative action, spoke out against Bush's decision, saying in an official statement that the decision is indicative of the president's "less than robust" commitment to civil rights.
"Were the Supreme Court to decide with the White House it would be effectively resegregating higher education across the country," said ACLU Staff Attorney Vincent Warren in a press release.
Bush said his administration "will continue to actively promote diversity and opportunity in every way that the law permits," suggesting that plans guaranteeing top students places in state schools, which have worked in other states to promote diversity, could achieve better results.
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