EAST LANSING, MI --- The University of Michigan (including the Ann Arbor, Flint and Dearborn campuses), Michigan State University and Wayne State University have filed a motion in federal court seeking a short-term delay in the implementation of Proposal 2 with respect to admissions and financial aid. The motion asks the court for limited, short-term relief to complete this year’s admissions and financial aid cycles using the same standards in place when the process began earlier this year.

The universities’ legal motion was filed today before Judge David M. Lawson in U.S. District Court in response to a lawsuit filed against the three universities on Nov. 8 by the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action by Any Means Necessary and others.

Students began to apply for admission to the 2007-08 entering class last summer and will continue applying through the spring and early summer, when most students will have been admitted and offers of financial aid will have been made and accepted. The universities’ motion recognizes the need to assure current and future students, as well as private supporters of financial aid, of the intention to honor previous commitments.      

The presidents of each of the three universities, President Mary Sue Coleman of the University of Michigan, President Irvin D. Reid of Wayne State University and President Lou Anna K. Simon of Michigan State University, have pledged that each of their campuses will work within the boundaries of the law to pursue a broadly diverse community.