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Two lawsuits filed in 1997 (Gratz, et al. v. Bollinger; and Grutter, et al. v. Bollinger) made the University of Michigan a focal point in the national debate over the value and legality of affirmative action in higher education. The lawsuits brought by non-minority applicants challenged the legality of the university's admissions process. Documentation includes briefs, judicial orders and opinions, expert reports, trial transcripts and exhibits, and amicus briefs from companies and organizations supporting the university's position in both the Gratz and Grutter case. Also included are snapshot of the university's admissions lawsuits website and clippings and media files.

The records are organized in four series, Grutter v. Bollinger, et al., Gratz v. Bollinger, et al., Admissions Lawsuits Website and News Media. The first three series contain briefs, judicial orders and opinions, experts' reports, amicus briefs from companies and organizations supporting the university's position in the lawsuits, and a limited number of press releases and documents printed from the website maintained by the university's News and Information Services regarding the lawsuits. The News Media series, however, is entirely comprised of news articles, editorials and press releases from newspapers across the country. Note that the record group currently contains only public documents. It does not contain internal General Counsel documents or correspondence regarding the lawsuits.

Artificially constructed collection of University of Michigan videotapes received from a variety of sources. Videotapes, mainly in VHS format, of University of Michigan events, symposiums, panel discussions, interviews, outreach and public service announcements as well as network news depictions featuring the University of Michigan. Includes Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy ground breaking and naming, Arthur Miller symposium, MLK Day events, and Y2K public service announcements.

Artificially constructed collection of University of Michigan videotapes received from a variety of sources. Videotapes, mainly in VHS format, of University of Michigan events, symposiums, panel discussions, interviews, outreach and public service announcements as well as network news depictions featuring the University of Michigan. Includes Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy ground breaking and naming, Arthur Miller symposium, MLK Day events, and Y2K public service announcements. The videos are arranged into of four series: Events, Interviews, Outreach and U-M Produced Videos, and News Depictions of U-M. Unless otherwise indicated, all items are in the VHS format.