[belverron]

Quote by: Gratz v. Bollinger For the reasons set forth in Grutter v. Bollinger, post, at 327-333, the Court has today rejected petitioners' argument that diversity cannot constitute a compelling state interest.

Quote by: Sandra Day O'Connor's Concurring Opinion in Gratz v. Bollinger For these reasons, the record before us does not support the conclusion that the University's admissions program for its College of Literature, Science, and the Arts-to the extent that it considers race-provides the necessary individualized consideration. The University, of course, remains free to modify its system so that it does so. Cf. Grutter v. Bollinger, post, p. 306. But the current system, as I understand it, is a nonindividualized, mechanical one. As a result, I join the Court's opinion reversing the decision of the District Court. (emphasis mine)

Quote by: University of Michigan Undergraduate Review Process (2004-2005) Race and Ethnicity Reviewers should consider the applicant’s race and ethnicity, as identified by the applicant, with special attention to members of a racial or ethnic group that is underrepresented on the U-M Ann Arbor campus (at the present time, these groups include African-Americans/Blacks, Hispanics/Latinos, and Native Americans or Alaskans). Race is one of many factors that contribute to a diverse learning environment for all students. The University will continue to seek a critical mass of students from these underrepresented groups as one aspect of its overall effort to provide opportunities for all students to receive educational benefits from interactions with peers who are broadly diverse with regard to the full range of personal characteristics and backgrounds. As with all of the other personal characteristics and attributes taken into account, race will be considered in a flexible, non-mechanical way, and shall not be treated as the defining feature of any application. As discussed above under “Educational Environment,” reviewers should also consider applicants—regardless of their race or ethnicity—who are educated in high schools serving populations that are predominantly comprised of students from underrepresented racial and ethnic minority groups. (emphasis mine)

The University of Michigan, like ... I do believe most ... state schools, does in fact still practice affirmative action. It simply does it in a means more narrowly tailored to the compelling state interest of cultural diversity.