Court Rejects Michigan's Affirmative Action Ban

Challenge to voter-approved ban rejected

(NEWSER) - California's 16-year-old ban on affirmative action in the state university system has been reaffirmed by an appeals court. Proposition 209, which was passed by the state's voters in 1996 and upheld after a court challenge in 1997, bans public school from basing admissions on race or sex. Its opponents—backed by Gov. Jerry Brown—argued that the system unfairly allows universities to grant preferential treatment to groups like military veterans, athletes, and children of alumni, but cannot address racial inequality, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. More»

There's a society for every taste

(NEWSER) - Looking to meet like-minded people as the new school year begins? Never fear—these days, there’s a club for everybody, the Detroit Free Press reports. A few of the oddest:

• Squirrel clubs. Both the University of Michigan and Western Michigan University offer societies aimed at interacting with our bushy-tailed friends.
• Tree Musketeers. Northern Michigan’s club welcomes those interested in learning to swing from tree to tree in the manner of Tarzan.

(NEWSER) - The auto industry may be tanking, but Michigan has a new small-scale savior: Kid Rock Beer. A Michigan brewery has landed a tax credit to produce a line of beer with the rocker's name and image, the Detroit Free Press reports. It's expected to create about 400 new jobs in the state, and the beer should be in stores by mid-spring. More»

Former #5 team's 0-2 start sparks calls for coach's resignation

(NEWSER) - Michigan started the college football season ranked fifth. Now, after embarrassing losses to unranked Appalachian State and Oregon, the Wolverines have plummeted out of the polls, and fans are reacting, USA Today reports. Home-crowd fans booed the Wolverines last weekend, and Detroit columnists are calling for coach Lloyd Carr to resign. More»

Div. I No. 5 falls to Div. I-AA 'rival'

(NEWSER) - In an upset for the ages, No. 5 Michigan fell to Appalachian State, the two-time defending champ of the division formerly known as 1-AA, before a dumbfounded crowd this afternoon in Ann Arbor, 34-32. Julian Rauch's 24-yard field goal gave Appalachian the lead with 26 seconds remaining, and the Mountaineers' Corey Lynch blocked Jason Gingell's FG attempt 20 seconds later. More»