Due to the recent Supreme Court case questioning the admissions process of the University of Michigan, Loyola and universities all over the country are looking at how affirmative action is structured.

The University of Michigan was said to be violating the constitution because it used racial preferences in its admissions.

Debbie Stieffel, Dean of Admissions, said that Loyola’s population is more diverse than other private schools its size because of the location and appeal to students from places such as Central America, South America and Honduras.

“I think we have a large minority group in comparison to other schools,” said Jacqueline Jaubert, communications junior. “However, I don’t think it should be a determining factor for admissions.”

Some 73 percent of whites who participated in a recent Newsweek survey said they oppose preferences for blacks and Hispanics.

The University of Michigan’s admissions process is based on a point system in which 20 out of 150 points can be given to students who come from a underrepresented minority group or from a predominantly minority high school.

Stieffel said that Loyola does not have a specific system in recruiting minority groups.

“It is the way of the world. A lot of people value a diverse population,” Stieffel said.

Angela Vandenburg, a communications senior, said that race or ethnic background should not be considered in the admissions process.

“I think it should be based on academics and extra-curricular activities,” Vandenburg said.

Stieffel said that Loyola admissions depend on standardized test scores, core curriculum, essays, recommendations and review by academic committee. Loyola admissions has 12 traveling recruiters and 15 total recruiters.

“If they (prospective students) are a member of an ethnic minority I think that’s great, but none of our recruiting strategies take that into consideration,” Stieffel said.

During the Supreme Court case against the University of Michigan, other options for admissions preference were brought to the forefront.

According to the Newsweek study, blacks account for 11 percent of undergraduates nationally, and at the more elite schools, the percentage is smaller.

Steiffel said that scholarships are general across the board at Loyola.

“I can’t compete with full tuition, room and board and a stipend if other universities are going to use those perks to recruit minorities,” Steiffel said.

Full cost of tuition, room, board, travel and books at Loyola is $32,000 to $33,000 per year.

“We’re after good students. The better they are, the better we are,” said Steiffel.

If universities begin to change their affirmative actions admissions processes, the new question arises on the affect of preferences for legacies and athletes.

According to Newsweek, some educators think legacies (the children or grandchildren of alumni) could become unintended victims of an anti-affirmative action ruling.

On the other hand, athletic preferences do not disproportionately favor whites so they are not as vulnerable to change according to the Newsweek study.

“We have so many people here from different places,” said Vandenberg. “I am from a small country, but I don’t expect anything because I was born and raised American.” I think it unfair to favor certain minority groups over others because of their historical disadvantaged background.”