Bush opposes college on race in apex court case

‘‘We must be vigilant in responding to prejudice wherever we find it,’’ he said. ‘‘As we work to address the wrongs of racism, we must not use means that create another wrong, and thus perpetuate our divisions.’’

White House and Justice Department lawyers have prepared what a senior administration official called ‘‘a narrowly tailored’’ brief arguing against the Michigan program. It will be filed with the high court on Thursday.

University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman said the school’s admissions process was fair and took into account ‘‘the entire background of each applicant just as the President urged.’’ ‘‘There is no substitute for careful consideration of race as one of many factors in an admissions process,’’ she said.

‘‘I strongly support diversity of all kinds, including racial diversity in higher education, but the method used by University of Michigan to achieve this important goal is flawed,’’ Bush said. ‘‘At their core Michigan policies amount to a quota system that rewards or penalises students based on their race.’’

In the biggest affirmative action case in decades, the Supreme Court is preparing to decide if public universities can use a student’s race in admission decisions. But senior official said the government’s brief would address only narrow issues that the Michigan program ‘‘flunks the test’’ and is unconstitutional.

Bush said students at University of Michigan were being selected or rejected primarily on the colour of their skin. While the motivation may be good, ‘‘its result is discrimination and that discrimination is wrong,’’ he said. (Reuters)