“Socioeconomic status does not work as a substitute for race, and that has been shown clearly at other schools that have tried it. And it is not at all helpful in addressing participation on the basis of gender."

Another reservation about Descriptor Plus is that its effectiveness in extracting underrepresented students is based on the segregated and in some cases failed state of the public school system. This was revealed in a in a 2006 Harvard University Study that found America’s public schools were more segregated than they were 15 years ago and that Michigan had one of the highest amounts of segregated schools in the United States. That is to say, in some ways, diversity gains for the University rely on homogenous nature of many neighborhoods across Michigan.

However, the University has made its best efforts to account for integrating high schools into their larger mission for diversity. In an interview with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions Director of Recruitment and Operations, Erica Sanders, discusses the meaning of Susan O’ Connor’s 25-year term limit on affirmative action in the 2003 rulings.

"This call from former Justice O'Connor meant that higher education institutions would be active participants and partners with public schools,” Sanders said. "There are 10 areas in the state that are being targeted where the University builds relationships with these schools, conducts follow-up processes and builds a pipeline.”

“Pipelines” is the term Sanders used and reused to describe the many ways the University invests in students who show academic promise and already consider the University a viable option in as early as the ninth or 10th grade. The University assists with essays, and offers a range of college preparation activities. Additionally, the University has redoubled their efforts in the Undergraduate Admissions Office in Detroit.

For now, minority enrollment has not seen a free-fall to the bottom but has decreased by .4 percent in the last enrollment cycle. Faculty and students, however, offer mixed results about the post-affirmative action debate and the University climate.

“To look at the numbers assessing whether there are more or less students of color fails to complicate the issues efficiently,” said Robin Coleman, a professor of Communications and AfroAmerican and African Studies. “From students I hear anecdotally, that one of the measurements of diversity were tables at the cafeteria. These numbers stand in for students involved in organizations. And they have seen that representation diminish.”

LSA junior Elaina Shope, who is white, said she is for affirmative action, but doesn’t think diversity has been affected much since the ban.

"The racial climate is good, there is widespread diversity and cultural respect," Shope said. "I am for affirmative action, everyone has equal rights and we are all entitled to the same things."

Looking ahead, it’s difficult to tell where the affirmative action dialog will go next. This past November offered potential to change the course of affirmative action policy. While Nebraska joined the ranks of a handful of states that now must seek other alternatives for diversifying along race and gender lines, the state of Colorado became the first in the nation to uphold affirmative action by defeating a ballot measure. We have a long way to 2028, the year in which former Justice O'Conner predicts that race and gender will no longer be categories of marginalization.