For its part, the University of Michigan has welcomed the intervention by the civil rights groups and the students they represent.
"We are pleased that these intervenors are fully supportive of our efforts to provide an integrated, diverse and high quality education," said Dr. Lee C. Bollinger, president of the University of Michigan.
"As I have stated from the outset," he added, "the University of Michigan is fully committed to defending its policies that consider race as one factor among many for admission to the University."
On February 23, the CIR filed a motion in opposition to the high school students' motion for intervention. The new motion argues that the students have "no legally protected interests" with regard to the University of Michigan's affirmative action policies, says CIR spokesman Terry Pell. Because the affirmative action program at the university is voluntary, CIR contends the students have no legal basis for joining the lawsuit as defendants.
As of late February, the federal judge in the Michigan case had not ruled on the motion to intervene.
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