Companies support University of Michigan's affirmative action policy

Jet, Feb 17, 2003

Some of the largest companies in the nation are supporting the University of Michigan in its battle to keep its affirmative action policy, the New York Times recently reported.

Among the dozens of companies who are supporting the university's policy of considering race in the admissions process are 3M, General Motors, Microsoft, Bank One, Procter & Gamble, Steelcase, PepsiCo and Exelon, the newspaper reported.

The companies believe universities should be allowed to consider race when selecting students. The companies also have relationships with colleges to help recruit minority employees upon graduation, which helps them have a diverse work force, the newspaper noted.

In a statement, Procter & Gamble said it "has historically relied upon nearby universities of superior academic training, such as the University of Michigan, as a key source of new employees."

The University of Michigan is in the midst of a court battle in the U.S. Supreme Court over its affirmative action policy. At stake is the constitutionality of the program, a direct result of a 1978 affirmative action ruling that struck down quotas but allowed admissions officers to use race as a "plus factor."

President Bush has announced his administration's opposition to the university's admissions policy of considering race in determining admissions. The Justice Department brief to the Supreme Court has angered civil fights leaders who view Bush's remarks as an effort to dismantle college admissions programs and undermine civil fights (JET, Feb. 3).

The outcome of the court case could have nationwide repercussions on affirmative action.