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The University of Michigan is embroiled in a lawsuit that claims it unlawfully excludes White, straight male applicants from its esteemed student-run law journal, The Michigan Law Review. The allegations center around the university’s emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
A nonprofit organization opposing affirmative action filed a federal complaint on June 18. This group accuses the University of Michigan Law School’s law journal of employing race and sex preferences during the member selection process and article publication choices.
The Allegations of Bias
The legal complaint asserts that previously, candidates were selected based on their first-year academic performance and a writing competition. However, it alleges that a faction of students dissatisfied with the demographics resulting from this conventional system influenced a shift toward race and sex preferences in the selection of new members.
The lawsuit argues that The Michigan Law Review applies these contentious preferences by requiring prospective members to submit a 750-word ‘personal statement’ with their applications. It notes that applicants are not only allowed but encouraged to disclose their race, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity. The suit contends this practice contradicts legal guidelines prohibiting discrimination based on these categories during the selection process.
Holistic Review Process Under Scrutiny
The complaint reveals that approximately 60% of new members are chosen through a “holistic review” process. This process factors in personal statements alongside academic qualifications. Critics argue this practice disproportionately favors women, racial minorities, and LGBTQ+ individuals over heterosexual White males, even if those individuals boast higher academic achievements.
The document asserts that members of the Holistic Review Committee systematically manipulate this review process to ensure the incoming Law Review has what they term a sufficiently diverse composition. It highlights the selection of candidates that the committee considers to display demographic diversity rather than purely academic merit.
Discrimination in Article Selection
Furthermore, the lawsuit indicates that The Michigan Law Review also engages in discriminatory practices when choosing articles for publication. It asserts that the journal prioritizes contributions from diverse voices and encourages editors to focus on
