TO SUPPORT THE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION POLICY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN BEFORE THE U.S. SUPREME COURT

WHEREAS, on May 14, 2002, the 6^th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in a 5-4 decision to uphold the University of Michigan Law School's affirmative action plan in Grutter v. Bollinger, the decision that, along with the University of Michigan undergraduate case, has been accepted for review by the U.S. Supreme Court;

WHEREAS, the outcome of these cases is likely to have a significant impact on the role of affirmative action in admissions decisions for higher education;

WHEREAS, AFT believes that meaningful diversity in the student body in our nation's colleges and universities provides a richer educational environment for all students;

WHEREAS, under the University of Michigan affirmative action policy, an applicant's race is considered, among many other factors (such as his or her grades, class rank, standardized test scores, geographic location, extracurricular activities, alumni status, etc.) in determining student admission;

WHEREAS, the admissions policy followed by the University is consistent with that advocated for many years by the AFT and endorsed by Justice Powell for the Supreme Court in the case of University of California v. Bakke, 1978;

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers, in conjunction with other likeminded organizations, file an amicus brief before the U.S. Supreme Court stating our support for the University of Michigan in this matter and our longstanding commitment to the value of racial diversity as a factor in university admissions policies. [Executive Council]