Dennis Shields, the defendant in the Grutter vs. Bollinger (2003) case, will be speaking in Bostian Hall at 4 p.m. today.

Barbara Grutter filed a lawsuit against the University of Michigan in 1997 after the law school rejected her, despite the fact that she met general requirements for admission. Grutter argued that because race plays a factor in admissions, minorities had unfair advantages over whites.

Supreme Court cases, like Grutter vs. Bollinger, brought the fairness of admissions in higher levels of education to the federal government’s attention.

“I plan on spending half of my time to explain my side of the issue and then opening it up for questions and interactions with the group,” Shields said.

Shields was the assistant dean and director of admissions at the University of Michigan law school when Grutter filed the lawsuit.

“The essence of the case is still a prevalent issue in society today,” said Marguerite Pressley, a senior in accounting and business finance.

Pressley is the president of the Pre-law Students’ Association. She said she has seen Shields speak every year since she was a freshman through PLSA.

“He’s a powerful speaker,” Pressley said. “He really knows how to engage the audience.”

Shields is coming to speak in honor of Constitution Day, which is an annual holiday to “explore the structure of government and the relationship between government and its citizens,” according to Jennie LaMonte of the undergraduate academic programs and fellowship advising office.

“We have a remarkable Constitution,” Shields said. “We should be well-informed about what it means and how it affects our lives.”

Shields said he hopes to bring the “middle ground” of the case to students. He said the media and outside sources report the extremes of the case’s sides. Shields acknowledged not all the students will agree with the Court’s decision.

“The goal for me is not to persuade [the audience], but to inform,” Shields said.

Pressley said she is interested in seeing how the case affected Shield’s career and his development as a person. She said she is planning on becoming a lawyer after graduation, and is excited to see a person directly involved in the same case she will be reading about in law school.

“You actually get the intensity of the case from someone who was there,” said Pressley. “This case is definitely a landmark in history. To be able to partake in the event from someone who was in the Supreme Court is a once in a lifetime experience to bring that history to you.”

Shields said the case’s effect is going to be present in the future.

“The concern for diversity will continue no matter what happens [in the courts],” Shields said. “We’ll just have to work within the bounds of the law.”

According to Shields, he has enjoyed speaking to the students at the University in the past and said today’s presentation will be no different.

Students like Pressley, said they are excited about Shield’s speech as well.

“I feel NCSU couldn’t have gotten a better speaker,” Pressley said.