A federal appeals court decision ruled in favor of three publishers who had sued the owner of a small copy-shop business for copyright infringement in producing custom-made anthologies for college courses. However, a divided court could not determine willful violation of the law, vacating damages awarded in lower court. Debate over fair use…

The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear a case that might guide colleges in resolving conflict between campus policies on sexual harassment and free-speech rights. The case involved San Bernardino College (California) and a tenured professor whose explicit classroom discussions college officials felt constituted sexual harassment. An appeals…

In a unanimous ruling, the Supreme Court is requiring the University of Pennsylvania to give faculty peer-review documents to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for its investigation into a sex discrimination case. Academics fear infringement of academic freedom and privacy. (MSE)

The texts of the Supreme Court's syllabus and unanimous opinion in the University of Pennsylvania vs. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is presented. The case involves release of peer-review records in a faculty sex discrimination suit. (MSE)

The Supreme Court has ruled public colleges may not deny funds to student groups because they engage in religious activities. The case, involving the University of Virginia, sets looser standards for separation of church and state in higher education. Some see it as providing new protections against censorship and withdrawal of funds. Text of the…

The Supreme Court's dissenting opinion in a University of Virginia case concerning denial of funds to a religious student newspaper is presented. Justice Souter argues that the ruling supporting funding is in violation of doctrine concerning separation of church and state. (MSE)

A Supreme Court ruling last March, "Seminole Tribe of Florida vs. State of Florida," sharply restricted Congress' ability to override a state's immunity to federal lawsuits under the 11th Amendment. State institutions have already used the decision to fend off litigation on a variety of issues, including age discrimination, patents and…

Higher education associations representing hundreds of colleges and universities have filed briefs asking the Supreme Court to reverse an appeals court ruling that Brown University (Rhode Island) discriminated against female athletes in cutting support for their gymnastics and volleyball teams, in violation of federal Title IX regulation. The…

A federal district court has ruled that Brown University (RI) discriminates against its women's athletics programs, in violation of federal law. The university's stance on the law, which questions government interpretation, has been controversial. The suit was brought by nine female athletes seeking reinstatement of gymnastics and volleyball…

The Supreme Court has heard arguments in a suit prompted by the University of Virginia's denial of funds to "Wide Awake," a Christian newspaper, based on the doctrine of separation of church and state. The justices appear divided on the issue. (MSE)

The Supreme Court has ruled that Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which protects disabled people from discrimination, covers persons with contagious diseases. This decision is seen as strengthening the rights of people suffering from AIDS as well as other diseases. (MSE)

A three-judge panel of the U. S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled unanimously that civil rights groups could not sue the federal government to force it to take steps against states or colleges that may be breaking the law. (MLW)

A federal appeals court ordered new trials on whether curriculum at Alabama's predominantly white colleges discriminates against blacks by lacking content on black thought and history, and whether much of the state land-grant program should be shifted from Auburn University to Alabama A&M, a historically black institution. (MSE)

A federal district judge ruled that state officials failed to demonstrate the need to close Mississippi Valley State University and merge Mississippi University for Women with Mississippi State University to meet desegregation requirements. He ordered Mississippi to provide additional funds to two other black colleges, and approved a state plan…

The Clinton administration has asked the Supreme Court to force Virginia Military Institute, currently all male, to admit women rather than have the state create a similar leadership program for women at another institution. The case parallels litigation in South Carolina involving the Citadel. (MSE)