Much like their peers at other American institutions of higher learning, Dartmouth administrators lauded the decisions handed down Monday by the Supreme Court in the Michigan affirmative action cases.
"We at Dartmouth are pleased that the Court has upheld the consideration of race in admissions as one factor, among other factors, to achieve the educational benefits of a diverse college community," said College President James Wright. "It is clear that the Court has upheld the principles that have guided higher education's approach to affirmative action."
One decision upheld the use of race in making admissions decisions to universities, while the other rejected the use of points systems like that used at the University of Michigan.
Dartmouth, like many other universities nationwide, had publicly supported Michigan since February, when it signed on to a joint amicus brief with seven other universities favoring the large state school's affirmative action admissions policies.
College General Counsel Bob Donin said he was "very pleased" with the decision and said that it would likely necessitate no change on the part of the admissions office.
"The decision clarifies an area of the law that has been such a contentious and disputed area for 25 years," Donin said. "Institutions were already operating under the guidelines established by Justice Powell in Bakke in 1978 so I don't think the decisions will result in a change in the admissions process at most schools."
While agreeing with Donin, Dean of Admissions Karl Furstenberg noted that he did not expect the decisions to precipitate any major changes in the way the Dartmouth admissions office operates.
"We are very pleased things turned out the way they did," Furstenberg said. "The Supreme Court reaffirmed what we are already doing in admissions here -- that it is legitimate to take race and ethnicity into account as one factor among others in an individual, holistic process in an attempt to develop a diverse student body."
Though administrators praised the cases' outcomes, students interviewed by The Dartmouth were largely unaware that a decision had been made in the case.
While some knew there had been a decision, the vast majority were aware only that there was a major affirmative action case being considered, not that a judgement had been made.
"I haven't read much about it," said Will Morrison '05 as he summed up the opinions of many of those contacted by The Dartmouth.
Some students said they supported the ruling. "I agree with that, not using the point system," Tom Musser '05 said, adding that he believes in the principles of affirmative action.
Others, however, decried the very existence of affirmative action in university admissions.
"I think it should just be on merit, regardless of your background," Eric Robinson '05 said.
Robinson, a white student who said he was unaware of the decision, added that the College's application form "gave the option to put down my background, and I didn't."
