Michigan Department of Civil Rights Releases Statement on Federal Court Finding on Proposal 2

Contact: Daniel Levy (313) 212-6061

Agency: Civil Rights

Lansing - Earlier today, the Michigan Department of Civil Rights released the following statement:

"The Michigan Department of Civil Rights applauds the opinion of the US 6th Circuit Court of Appeals striking down the prohibition on any consideration of race or gender in university admissions decisions.

We believe the question of who comprises a student body is best made at the academic rather than the political level. A university's primary responsibility is the academic interests of those students who are admitted and preparing those students for the future. This decision removes the handcuffs that prevented Michigan's public universities from making decisions based upon those factors they believed to be in the best interests of the entire student body and the institutions as a whole.

At its core, today's decision trumpets a principle that is at the very heart of what makes America great. When new democracies are being born around the world, it is a bedrock principle we need to underscore and a lesson we hope they heed. America's strength grows from our constant efforts to balance majority rule and minority rights. The 6th Circuit today reminds us that minority rights cannot properly be determined based solely on popular vote. The decision is a truly appropriate way to begin the Independence Day weekend."

For more information on the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, please visit www.michigan.gov/mdcr.

Related Documents
> Michigan Department of Civil Rights Releases Statement on Federal Court Finding on Proposal 2 - 30998 bytes