Woman who challenged U-M's admissions policy to lead ballot petition drive
By David Runk / Associated Press Detroit News
FARMINGTON HILLS -- One of the plaintiffs in the University of Michigan affirmative action cases said Monday she would lead an effort to seek a ballot initiative that would ban racial preferences at universities and other public agencies.
Jennifer Gratz, who challenged Michigan's undergraduate admissions policies in a lawsuit, will serve as executive director of the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative. Gratz, who is white, was a Michigan resident with good grades and other qualifications when she was rejected at the flagship Ann Arbor campus. She since has graduated from another college.
The MCRI wants to gather enough signatures to get a state constitutional amendment banning racial preferences on the November ballot.
"Policies that classify people and divide people by race and gender ... is what is truly divisive," Gratz said as the group kicked off its petition drive at a news conference in this Detroit suburb.
About a dozen opponents of the proposed amendment rallied outside the site of Monday's news conference, saying it would dismantle much-needed affirmative action programs in higher education and government.
Those who want to ban racial preferences in Michigan announced their effort to get the issue on the ballot after the Supreme Court in June decided to uphold a general affirmative action program at the University of Michigan law school, but struck down the undergraduate school's formula of awarding points based on race.
Last month, the Board of State Canvassers approved the petition forms. Supporters of the proposed constitutional amendment need to gather 317,757 signatures by July 6 for the measure to appear on the ballot.
A group called Citizens for a United Michigan, a coalition including religious, civil rights and business leaders who oppose the initiative plan, has formed to fight the measure. That group planned to detail its efforts Tuesday in Lansing.
"It will be divisive. It will open old wounds," Michael Rice, the head of the citizens group, said of the initiative. "If it passes, there will be consequences. These consequences will not be good for us."
On the Net:
Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, mcri2004.org |
