In Reactions to the Michigan Rulings, Diversity Abounds

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld in a 5-to-4 decision the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor’s use of affirmative action in its law school’s admissions program. At the same time, the court ruled 6 to 3 against the race-concious admissions policy at the university’s chief undergraduate college.

In the case of Grutter v. Bollinger, the justices concluded that the law school’s program was narrowly tailored to further a compelling interest in “obtaining educational benefits that flow from a diverse student body.” In the undergraduate case, Gratz v. Bollinger, the justices said the university’s policy, which automatically granted extra points to students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, was not narrowly tailored to achieve educational diversity.

The Chronicle asked some of the people who have played key roles in the debates about affirmative action to comment on the two rulings.

• A Turning Point in the Civil-Rights Struggle
  By Linda Chavez
• This Issue Has a Human Face
  By M. Lee Pelton
• The Court Decides Anything Goes
  By Michael S. Greve
• The Constitution Is Both Colorblind and Color-Conscious
  By Lani Guinier
• The Cloudy Vision of a Race-Free America
  By Ward Connerly
• A Victory for Justice, and a Vindication
  By Nancy E. Cantor

http://chronicle.com Section: The Chronicle Review Volume 49, Issue 43, Page B10