WEBQUEST:
REVERSE DISCRIMINATION?
BY
RICHARD H. CONNELLY, JR.
In 1978, The Supreme Court decided on a civil rights case that dealt with the validity of affirmative action policies. These policies were established to give special consideration to, minorities such as blacks and women that had been historically discriminated against. The Case was called Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, in which Allan Bakke, who was white, applied twice to the Univ. of California medical school in 1973 and 1974. Bakke, after being rejected twice for admissions, sued the school for "reverse discrimination" claiming that the school’s policy of reserving class spaces for minorities violated his "equal protection rights". The Supreme Court after reviewing the case, rendered a complex decision which included Bakke’s Admission to the school, while not concluding that the school did or did not violate Bakke’s "equal protection"
· Students divide into teams of four attorneys.
· Each team will either support or oppose Bakke’s contention in the court case.
· Students must create a legal brief and provide two or more court cases (precedents)
· Students will present their position during class.
· Students will be arguing in front of the U.S. Supreme Court (Teachers)
· Students will argue the case in a 3 min presentation
Presentation will include:
-A thorough understanding of the issues discussed in the lower courts
-A clear understanding of the constitutional issues that will be discussed
-An ability to respond to questions asked by the Supreme Court Justices
Resources
Evaluation
50% for presentation
25% for legal precedents
25% for knowledge of constitutional issues