Diversity Council issues resolution supporting U-M

COLUMBUS – The Ohio State University Council on Diversity, established through the Academic Plan to advise the university’s president and provost on diversity issues, has issued the following statement supporting the University of Michigan in its cases pending before the U.S. Supreme Court (Gratz v. Bollinger, Grutter v. Bollinger.) Today is the deadline for amicus briefs to be filed in the case, in which oral arguments will be heard April 1. A decision is expected in June.

Statement from the Ohio State University Council on Diversity

“At this time, when the U.S. Supreme Court will consider the constitutionality of the University of Michigan's admissions process, it is important that those who have views make them known publicly. To that end, members of the Ohio State University Council on Diversity wish to state our position. We strongly support the view that diversity at The Ohio State University is an important goal. We also firmly support the current practice at Ohio State of including race as a ‘plus factor’ in the admissions process.

“We are convinced that OSU's race-conscious process will be eliminated as a legal option if the Supreme Court decides against the University of Michigan. Thus, we strongly contend that the principles of the Bakke decision, which allow race to be considered as a factor in admissions processes and which are consistent with the policies of the University of Michigan, must be upheld and, indeed, reaffirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court.

“Including race as one of many factors in making admissions decisions at The Ohio State University is necessary if we are to achieve the goal of building a world-class university with a diverse student body.

“The Council on Diversity joins the growing number of corporate, university, organization, union, and individual voices in support of the University of Michigan. We commit ourselves to achieving a racially and ethnically diverse community that enriches the U.S. and global communities in which our students work and live.

“In sum, the Council on Diversity wants to affirm that diversity is not a deficit, but a dividend, not a burden but a blessing, not a fad but our future.”

The Ohio State University Council on Diversity

Carole A. Anderson Office of Academic Affairs
Christine Ballengee-Morris Multi-cultural Center
John D. Chovan College of Engineering
Chicako I. CoxStudent Affairs
Esquivel-Gonzalez, Olga Office of Human Resources
Audeen W. Fentiman College of Engineering
Leslie M. Fine Department of Marketing
Henry Fishbach College of Dentistry
Judith B. Fountain The Women's Place
Timothy A. Gerber School of Music
Kenneth W. Goings African American and African Studies Department
Charles R. Hancock College of Education
Valerie B. Lee, Council ChairDepartment of English
Larry M. Lewellen Office of Human Resources
Tamira Moon Public Health Graduate Program
Teresa Y. Morishita Veterinary Preventive Medicine
Ruth Peterson Department of Sociology
Elliot E. Slotnick Graduate School
Mac A. Stewart Office of Minority Affairs
Barbara J. Warren College of Nursing

Ohio State Diversity Web Site