A federal court decision, Podberesky vs. Kirwin, in which a University of Maryland scholarship program targeting African American students was found to be racially discriminatory is a cause for concern because of heightened federal pressure to desegregate colleges and because of its possible implications for other state universities. (MSE)

Dr. Lloyd Hackley argues that first Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, then United States v. Fordice nearly 40 years later, robbed millions of African-American children and young adults of quality education. He charges that the focus of legislation has been to integrate school buildings not society. (Author/MSE)

Three landmark Supreme Court cases concerning affirmative action and racial discrimination within higher education institutions, and their interrelationships, are discussed: Hopwood vs. the State of Texas; Regents of the University of California vs. Bakke (1978); and Brown vs. Board of Education (1954). Treatment of the legal issues by the Center…

Since a federal appeals court dropped a case 3 years ago, ruling that states, not the federal government, are responsible for ensuring equal educational opportunity, educators feel African-American education has lost ground. The case argued states sanctioned dual systems of education. States' elimination of some programs now threatens…

After the appellate court decision in Hopwood versus State of Texas, overturning racial preference in law school admissions, supporters of continued affirmative action policy in higher education are finding conservatives on the offensive and a chilly climate for broad access, but are not planning an aggressive counterattack for fear of negative…

An analysis of a court decision, Podberesky v Kirwin, finding a University of Maryland scholarship targeting black students to be racially discriminatory reviews both what the Supreme Court has said about use of racial classifications and how it has not said what constitutes permissible affirmative action. (MSE)

Effects of Brown vs. Board of Education, the 1954 case in which the Supreme Court outlawed "separate but equal" education, are examined. Selected events in the history since the decision are chronicled, and trends in high school and college graduation rates for black students are charted. Educators discuss their own experiences of…

The federal court decision in Hopwood versus the State of Texas, in which the court ruled that race could not be used as a factor in law school admission, is forcing universities to reexamine their reliance on standardized tests as admission criteria. Reduced use of test scores can then allow more active recruitment of top minority students. (MSE)