Refusal by the Michigan Supreme Court yesterday to hear arguments on whether backers of the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative misled people who signed their petitions, paves the way for voters to make the decision in November on whether to ban race and gender preferences in university admissions and government hiring. The ballot initiative would amend the state Constitution to ban affirmative action programs that give preferential treatment to groups or individuals based on race, gender, color, ethnicity or national origin. What that would mean in practical terms is being hotly debated. Wayne State law professor Robert Sedler, who opposes the measure, said Thursday's development was no surprise, as Michigan has a long tradition of resolving legal disputes in favor of those seeking access to the ballot. "Once people have signed, you're not going to get a court to throw it out," he said. The article ran widely in other newspapers affiliated with the Free Press around the country.