With standing room only, Whig-Clio debated whether Princeton should file a brief with the Supreme Court supporting the University of Michigan's affirmative action policy.
More of the audience supported not filing a brief on the University of Michigan's side. Thirty-nine voted Clio, and 31 voted Whig, said Christian Asmar '04.
The University of Michigan's undergraduate and law school admission policies have come under legal action for possibly denying white applicants the equal protection guarantee of the Constitution.
President Tilghman has said that she supports Michigan and the University may join Harvard in a petition to the Supreme Court.
In favor of Princeton's involvement in the Michigan case were Whig representatives, Party Chair Katherine Reilly '05 and President of Senate Gilbert Lee '04. In opposition, representing Clio, were Debate Panelists Brad Simmons '03 and Nick Pilchak '04.
Award system
The University of Michigan uses a points-based admission system. Applicants are awarded 20 out of a total 150 points for minority status.
Reilly defended the policy, arguing the focus of the application process is on academics, with 70 points being awarded for grade point average.
Pilchak countered that in the admission process, race was worth 20 times more than writing an outstanding essay.
Simmons pointed out that because of the point system, a white or Asian student would need to earn an "A" average where black and Hispanic students only had to hold a "B" average for admission.
"A student with a 4.0 GPA, 1,600 on the SAT and a legacy is viewed on the same level as a black student with a 3.4 GPA and an 1,100 on the SAT," he said.
The issue whether Michigan's process is constitutional dominated the debate. "Point system does not equal quota," Lee said, in reference to the 1978 Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action quotas.
However, Pilchak argued that Michigan's "rigid" system only provided a nominally diverse community.
"We need diversity in viewpoints," Pilchak said. "Admissions offices need to look at individuals as individuals, only then will you obtain the most diverse community."
Universities like Michigan with 100,000 applicants per class do not have the time and resources to read each application as West College does, Lee said.
Simmons petitioned for a fix at the federal level, stating that Michigan was providing a band-aid solution.
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