When FIRE learned that Marshall University had limited enrollment in several "University Studies 101" courses to "African American Students Only," it letter to University President Stephen J. Kopp explaining that racially segregated courses are both unlawful and misguided. In Kopp's response, he claimed that the courses were open to both white and African American students. FIRE noted that the course description effectively enforced segregation, regardless of the official status of the courses. In response to FIRE's objections, Marshall has changed the course description for UNI 101, so that several sections in fall of 2007 will focused on "African American Student Issues," drawing students concerned about African American issues instead of limiting enrollment by race.
Case Materials
"Marshall University Dissolves Racially Restricted Orientation Classes," FIRE Press Release, August 9, 2006: Marshall University has taken the advice of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) and removed racial restrictions from an orientation course for first-year students. Last year’s listing for University Studies 101 (UNI 101) stated that certain sections were limited to “African American Students Only.” Thanks to FIRE’s intervention, several sections of UNI 101 this coming fall will focus on “African American Student Issues,” but will not exclude any student based upon race or ancestry.
"FIRE lauds Marshall's dropping of race-based course restrictions," Jim Brown, Agape Press, August 17, 2006: A campus watchdog has convinced Marshall University in West Virginia to stop offering racially segregated classes. The school had been limiting several freshman orientation classes to "African American students only."
"Marshall-Race Orientation," WVVA-TV (NBC Affiliate, Bluefield, W. Va.), August 10, 2006: Marshall University has dropped the words African-American students only from a listing on its fall schedule, following an educational foundation's warning that it could be violating state and federal law.
"Marshall drops 'African-American students only' from course list," Shaya Tayefe Mohajer, Wilkes Barre Times-Leader, August 9, 2006: Marshall University has dropped the words "African-American students only" from an orientation class listing on its fall schedule, following a warning from an educational foundation that it could be violating state and federal law.
