Podcast
Questions and Answers
What was the central issue in the case of Grutter v. Bollinger?
What was the central issue in the case of Grutter v. Bollinger?
According to the Supreme Court ruling in Grutter v. Bollinger, what could the University of Michigan Law School consider in its admissions process?
According to the Supreme Court ruling in Grutter v. Bollinger, what could the University of Michigan Law School consider in its admissions process?
Did the Supreme Court ruling in Grutter v. Bollinger set a precedent applicable to all universities?
Did the Supreme Court ruling in Grutter v. Bollinger set a precedent applicable to all universities?
What did the Supreme Court decision allow colleges more leeway in when considering students?
What did the Supreme Court decision allow colleges more leeway in when considering students?
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What is a key restriction imposed by the Supreme Court on colleges regarding consideration of racial factors in admissions?
What is a key restriction imposed by the Supreme Court on colleges regarding consideration of racial factors in admissions?
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Under the Supreme Court ruling in Grutter v. Bollinger, what must schools ensure when using racial factors in admissions decisions?
Under the Supreme Court ruling in Grutter v. Bollinger, what must schools ensure when using racial factors in admissions decisions?
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What standard did the majority opinion assert the university program stood up against?
What standard did the majority opinion assert the university program stood up against?
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Critics argue that the university's interpretation of 'diversity' allows discrimination based on all of the following EXCEPT:
Critics argue that the university's interpretation of 'diversity' allows discrimination based on all of the following EXCEPT:
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What has been a point of debate regarding the selection of students for elite academic programs?
What has been a point of debate regarding the selection of students for elite academic programs?
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Which characteristic has been a source of controversy in attempts to achieve a diversely populated student body?
Which characteristic has been a source of controversy in attempts to achieve a diversely populated student body?
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Many believe that affirmative action policies have had little impact on increasing minority enrollment numbers. Which option is NOT one of the beliefs surrounding this issue?
Many believe that affirmative action policies have had little impact on increasing minority enrollment numbers. Which option is NOT one of the beliefs surrounding this issue?
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Study Notes
On June 28th, 2003, the United States Supreme Court handed down its ruling in the case of Grutter v. Bollinger, which dealt with the issue of race-based admissions in college selection processes. Specifically, the case revolved around two central questions: Firstly, whether Michigan Law School's holistic admission policy violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment; secondly, if it was constitutional under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race by institutions receiving federal funds.
The court ruled that the University of Michigan Law School could consider racial differences among applicants during the admissions process in order to achieve the school's goal of a diverse student body. However, this decision was limited to the specific circumstances of the University of Michigan Law School and did not establish a precedent applicable beyond the school itself or to other universities. This means, while the law allows some degree of consideration of racial factors in admissions decisions, schools must take care to ensure they do so within reasonable limits that meet the goals of providing equal opportunity without creating unjustified racial preferences in their curricula. In essence, the decision allowed colleges more leeway when considering students from different backgrounds but severely curtailed their ability to give preferential treatment on the basis of skin color alone.
In upholding the university's practice, the majority opinion asserted that the program stood up against strict scrutiny—a standard that requires any government policy affecting fundamental rights to serve compelling interests using narrowly tailored measures. While this is true in principle, critics argue that this interpretation effectively grants licence to discriminate on grounds including sex, age, national origin, religion etc., provided such criteria can somehow be tied back into achieving the institution’s official mission of ‘diversity’, regardless of how specious these links might be.
This ruling came after decades of debate over what role, if any, secondary characteristics like gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical appearance, socioeconomic class, geographic location, etc. ought to play in selecting who gets into elite academic programs. Despite the controversy surrounding the use of race to achieve a diversely populated student body, many believe that there is little evidence supporting the idea that affirmative action policies have made a significant impact on increasing minority enrollment numbers. As a result, even today, debates continue about how best to select the next generation of leaders, especially given the complexities involved in balancing concerns about access with maintaining standards within elite institutions.
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Description
Explore the key details and implications of the 2003 United States Supreme Court ruling in Grutter v. Bollinger regarding race-based admissions in college selection processes. Learn about the legal considerations, debates, and effects on diversity and affirmative action in academia.
