Affirmative Action: Regents of the University of California V. Bakke

In 1973 and 1974, the University of California, Davis, denied admission to applicant Allan Bakke. He decided to challenge the state university’s use of affirmative action, a program that allowed the school to consider racial background as a qualification for acceptance. Although the policy aimed to help disadvantaged groups gain access to competitive higher education institutions, Bakke and his attorneys claimed it often resulted in discrimination against other groups. Your students will explore the complexities of the debates over affirmative action, analyze the legal justifications from the legal system’s highest authorities, and ultimately be able to craft their own understandings and arguments surrounding this policy.