Four Michigan state legislators announced their intent to launch an investigation into the University's "racial preference" policies in its admissions procedures.
The four Republican representatives claim that the University unfairly favors admission of minority students who have lower grade point averages and Scholastic Aptitude Test scores than their white peers.
The representatives are encouraging students who feel they are victims of racial preference policies to come forward and file a class-action suit against the University.
Rep. Greg Kaza (R-Rochester Hills), who is one of the four representatives calling for action against the University, said the four specifically targeted the University, as opposed to other state institutions, because of its blatant racially biased policies in granting admission and awarding scholarships.
"(The University's administrators) are the most egregious user of these kind of policies, in my opinion," Kaza said. "They're bullies that are used to walking over 17- and 18-year-olds."
University President Lee Bollinger defended the University's admissions policies regarding affirmative action.
"My belief is that the policies that the University has followed are consistent with the Supreme Court precedents, they also are consistent with our intellectual mission," Bollinger said.
Kaza said he is certain the University would not withstand a court case against them.
"We'll prevail in court," Kaza said. "I'm confident in that."
Vice President for University Relations Lisa Baker said the University could successfully endure a legal battle.
"We believe everything we are doing with regard to admissions is both legal and appropriate," Baker said. "We believe we could withstand a court challenge."
Philosophy Prof. Carl Cohen said the legislators actions do not surprise him.
"In my view, the admission policies of the University are in clear violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964," Cohen said.
"We are forbidden by federal law from doing this," Cohen said. "But we do discriminate against applicants based on race. There is a very substantial chance that the University will not fair well (in trial)."
Rep. Deborah Whyman (R-Canton Twp.) said the University has not been forthcoming with information documenting admissions statistics.
"We feel that the procedures at the University are shamelessly secretive and a disgrace," Whyman said. "We are looking for victims of the U of M admissions policies."
The legislator's announcement comes just shortly after the University joined 61 other institutions in publishing an advertisement in The New York Times renewing their commitment to affirmative action.
"We want to express our strong conviction to take into account a wide range of considerations - including ethnicity, race and gender - as we evaluate the students whom we select for admission," The ad stated.
The representatives want to create a case against the University that is similar to cases that have been served against the University of Texas and the University of Washington.
In the case against the University of Texas, plaintiff Cheryl Hopwood triumphed over the institution as the court ruled that she had been unconstitutionally discriminated against with regard to racial preference.
Bollinger said the two cases - as well as legislation recently passed in California that bans the use of racial preference in the admissions process - are an attack on current affirmative action policies.
"We are in a period of history where there has been an established constitutionally sanctioned way of developing diversity," Bollinger said. "Decisions like Hopwood and Proposition 209 are clearly threatening to a road of a sense of values."