CSI : Now What? Affirmative Action and Higher Education in 2004 and Beyond

On June 23, 2003, the United States Supreme Court issued a pair of historic rulings on affirmative action and higher education. In Grutter v. Bollinger et al. and Gratz et al. v. Bollinger et al., the Court found that race can be used as a factor in higher education programs, as long as it is not used mechanically. These rulings prompted cheers among some observers, and tears among others. For many higher education officials they no doubt prompted a simple question, "Now What?"

1. Interpreting the ruling: What exactly did the Supreme Court prohibit in its two rulings on affirmative action? What are the range of activities that universities can now safely pursue? What activities are likely, but not clearly, permissible?

Presenter: Deborah Malamud, Professor of Law, New York University
Discussant: Trevor Morrison, Professor of Law, Cornell University

2. Race-Based programs after the rulings: How are universities changing their race-based programs to comply with the rulings? What affects universities' responses to the rulings?

Presenter: Marvin Krislov, Vice President and General Counsel, University of Michigan
Discussant: Stephen Morgan, Professor of Sociology, Cornell University

3. Colorblind programs after the rulings: What are the ways that universities pursue racial equality without explicitly taking race into account? Do these programs achieve similar outcomes to race-based programs?

Presenter: Marta Tienda, Professor of Sociology, Princeton University
Discussant: Ron Ehrenberg, Professor of Economics and Labor Relations, Cornell University

4. The future of affirmative action: The Supreme Court ruling implied that in 25 years we will not need to consider race in higher education. How likely is it that the importance of race will subside by 2028? What form should we expect affirmative action to take in the future?

Presenter: Michael Heise, Professor of Law, Cornell University
Discussant: John Sipple, Professor of Education, Cornell University


Now What? Affirmative Action and Higher Education in 2004 and Beyond April 23, 2004 Session 1 (9AM-Noon): G10 Biotech Session 2 (2PM-5PM): 305 Ives Schedule [PDF]		On June 23, 2003, the United States Supreme Court issued a pair of historic rulings on affirmative action and higher education. In Grutter v. Bollinger et al. and Gratz et al. v. Bollinger et al., the Court found that race can be used as a factor in higher education programs, as long as it is not used mechanically. These rulings prompted cheers among some observers, and tears among others. For many higher education officials they no doubt prompted a simple question, "Now What?" Together, leading academics, administrators, and lawyers from around the country will debate four specific issues: 1. Interpreting the ruling: What exactly did the Supreme Court prohibit in its two rulings on affirmative action? What are the range of activities that universities can now safely pursue? What activities are likely, but not clearly, permissible? Presenter: Deborah Malamud, Professor of Law, New York University Discussant: Trevor Morrison, Professor of Law, Cornell University 2. Race-Based programs after the rulings: How are universities changing their race-based programs to comply with the rulings? What affects universities' responses to the rulings? Presenter: Marvin Krislov, Vice President and General Counsel, University of Michigan Discussant: Stephen Morgan, Professor of Sociology, Cornell University 3. Colorblind programs after the rulings: What are the ways that universities pursue racial equality without explicitly taking race into account? Do these programs achieve similar outcomes to race-based programs? Presenter: Marta Tienda, Professor of Sociology, Princeton University Discussant: Ron Ehrenberg, Professor of Economics and Labor Relations, Cornell University 4. The future of affirmative action: The Supreme Court ruling implied that in 25 years we will not need to consider race in higher education. How likely is it that the importance of race will subside by 2028? What form should we expect affirmative action to take in the future? Presenter: Michael Heise, Professor of Law, Cornell University Discussant: John Sipple, Professor of Education, Cornell University Sponsors:Center for the Study of Inequality and Cornell Law School Funding: Center for the Study of Inequality and Cornell Law School