Seattle Post-Intelligencer: State universities: Race should be considered in admissions: "Supporters say the legislation would bring Washington's approach in line with a 2003 U.S. Supreme Court decision that upheld consideration of race in admissions at the University of Michigan's law school, saying the policy was narrowly tailored and focused on the benefits of diversity.

In 1999, the year after I-200 passed, the percentage of minority students at the University of Washington dropped. Those numbers have since recovered, the school reports.

Statewide, minority students accounted for 17.8 percent of student populations at four-year institutions last year, down slightly from the 18.1 percent reported in 1999, according to House staff research.

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