No. 11-345 ================================================================ In The Supreme Court of the United States --------------------------------- --------------------------------- ABIGAIL NOEL FISHER, Petitioner, v. UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, ET AL., Respondents. --------------------------------- --------------------------------- On Writ Of Certiorari To The United States Court Of Appeals For The Fifth Circuit --------------------------------- --------------------------------- BRIEF OF AMERICAN SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCHERS AS AMICI CURIAE IN SUPPORT OF RESPONDENTS --------------------------------- --------------------------------- LILIANA M. GARCES Counsel of Record GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY 2129 G Street NW Washington, DC 20052 (202) 994-5877
[email protected] ================================================================ COCKLE LAW BRIEF PRINTING CO. (800) 225-6964 OR CALL COLLECT (402) 342-2831 i TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTEREST OF AMICI CURIAE ......................... 1 SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT .............................. 2 ARGUMENT ........................................................ 4 I. The University’s Holistic Admissions Policy Achieves a Compelling Educational Objective That the Court Has Endorsed in Grutter v. Bollinger ...................................... 4 II. The University’s Holistic View of Applicants Is Narrowly Tailored to Further a Compelling Interest in the Educational Benefits of Diversity ............. 10 A. The University’s Policy Has Increased the Enrollment of Well-Qualified African American