The University of Michigan has dropped the use of affirmative action in admissions, in response to a new amendment to the state constitution. The university had sought to delay the move, but a federal court refused a request for an extension.
Complying with a new law banning affirmative action will be complicated, university officials say. But backers of the law say they will be watching closely to make sure that race and gender are dropped from the school's admissions criteria.
The university has dropped its legal challenges to the law, which was passed in a referendum in November.
On campus, there is still anger and disappointment that voters overwhelmingly chose to drop the university's vaunted affirmative action program. After all, the University of Michigan went to the Supreme Court in 2003 to win a partial victory in its fight to defend the use of race and gender in admissions. Proposal 2 was designed to trump that decision.
For many opponents of Proposal 2, it's simply not possible to maintain a diverse student population without affirmative action. Several groups are challenging the consitutionality of the law.
On campus, many students say that they have accepted the end of affirmative action in admissions. And those involved in recruiting say that they will simply have to redouble their outreach efforts.
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