Firms don't support spreading U-M policy Firms don't support spreading U-M policy
Many hesitant to prod colleges on diversity
April 3, 2003
BY JOCELYN PARKER
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER
Though more than 60 U.S. companies filed briefs to support the University of Michigan's controversial affirmative action policy, there's little evidence that those firms are calling for the same practice at other schools.
The companies -- including General Motors Corp., DaimlerChrysler AG and Dow Chemical Co. argue that the school's policy of using race as part of its selection process leads to a more diverse student body and that ultimately promotes a more diverse workforce at their own companies. Yet some of the firms that sent briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court say they won't tell other colleges to implement the same race-conscious policy as U-M.
While they will help schools with their diversity programs, they say it's up to the individual colleges to decide how they select students. The court is not expected to rule on the landmark case until summer. "We would not go as far as to say: 'You should adopt an affirmative action policy,' " says Monica Emerson, DaimlerChrysler's director of diversity development. "We engage in a discussion with them what the challenges might be, and then we look at what resources we could provide to them."
Even some Michigan universities say companies have't asked them to embrace U-M's policy. "I'm not aware of any request like that," said Michael Owens, associate dean of students at Central Michigan University. Terry Denbow, Michigan State University's vice president of university relations, said he had not heard of any such request at MSU, either. Experts observing the case say they aren't surprised. Race is a sensitive issue.
And companies, fearing backlash from customers and employees, often don't want to be at the forefront. "They agree that the principle is right, but they don't want to go overboard with the details," says Weldon Latham, senior partner with Holland & Knight,a law firm in Washington, D.C., that advises companies on corporate diversity. It's unusual for companies to get involved with heated issues, Latham said, especially ones that could potentially turn off customers.
While nearly all companies will readily say they support educational diversity, they will stop short of backing a controversial means of achieving it. "They still have to sell to everybody," Latham said. Fears of future lawsuits, particularly from older white males, might also prompt companies to keep a low profile when it comes to touting diversity, says Walter Connolly Jr., a Detroit-area attorney with Foley & Lardner.
"Some companies are concerned about being sued. They fear that their words will somehow be used against them," he said. That's probably a major reason some firms, such as Ford Motor Co., chose not to take a position on the case, Connolly said. The automaker has fought lawsuits charging that a management evaluation system put in place by former president Jacques Nasser discriminated against older, white employees.
Through a spokeswoman, Ford said it supports U-M building a diverse student body, but chose not to get involved with the case. Ford isn't alone. While several companies signed briefs, thousands of other companies throughout the nation have decided not to take a position. And for the companies that did get involved, it appears they are taking a less outspoken approach to touting diversity at other campuses.
Dow Chemical, for instance, offers internships to minority students at colleges as a way to groom them for the corporate world. DaimlerChrysler also said it offers grants to schools to retain and attract a diverse student body. For the most part, though, companies say they only deal with colleges where diversity is a priority.
"Most of the schools we interact with on a recruiting basis are on this issue," said David Wilkins, director of global diversity at Dow Chemical. "These schools are creating positions like mine."
Contact JOCELYN PARKER at 313-222-5391 or at parker@freepress.com.
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