University of Michigan pays to settle lawsuit

ANN ARBOR (AP) - The University of Michigan has settled a lawsuit brought by a student group that said it was improperly denied funding for an event featuring a speaker who previously sued the school. The Ann Arbor News reported last week that Michigan paid $14,000 as part of the settlement with Young Americans for Liberty. The organization filed the suit last fall after the university turned down an application requesting $1,000 from student fees to pay for a speaking engagement by Jennifer Gratz about affirmative action. Gratz sued over the school's racial preferences after being rejected for admission. According to university spokesman Rick Fitzgerald, Central Student Government clarified its policy in May, saying it "was pleased to provide funding to support student events representing a broad spectrum of diverse viewpoints and interests." Published: Tue, Jul 15, 2014