Center for Individual Rights

From dKosopedia

Category: Organizations

The Center for Individual Rights (or CIR) is a right-wing non-profit law firm that represents clients in cases where it can advocate ultra-conservative causes. It is particularly dedicated to rolling back affirmative action programs at colleges and universities around the United States. While it purports to advocate a level playing field in academic admissions for all citizens, regardless of race, it has received financial backing from the white supremacist and eugenicist Pioneer Fund.

Though it is relatively small (with 10 employees and a budget of around $2 million), it rose to national prominence in 2002 when the Supreme Court agreed to hear two of its affirmative action cases against the University of Michigan, Gratz v. Bollinger and Grutter v. Bollinger.

CIR also provided assistance to Professor Michael Levin of the City College of New York in his advocating the segregation of of black youths in separate subway cars in New York City.

CIR was founded in 1989 by Michael McDonald, a former attorney in the Reagan administration, and Michael Greve, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. Among its former associates is Theodore Olson, who George W. Bush nominated as Solicitor General.

Funding

• American Standard Foundation
• Bradley Foundation
• Carthage Foundation
• John M. Olin Foundation
• Pioneer Fund
• Randolph Foundation
• Scaife Family Foundation

Bibliography

Cross, Theodore (1999). [http://www.ferris.edu/htmls/othersrv/isar/Institut/cir/CIRgoals.htm African-American Opportunities in Higher Education: What Are the Racial Goals of The Center for Individual Rights?] The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education (Spring 1999)

Lane, Charles (May 21, 2001). Affirmative Action Again Facing a Court Test. The Washington Post.

External Links

• Website: http://www.cir-usa.org