SCHOLARSHIPS RULING CONCERNS SOUTHEAST

Southeast Missouri State University officials are taking a wait-and-see attitude toward a federal appeals court decision striking down race-based scholarships.

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last week that the University of Maryland violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment by earmarking scholarships for black students.

The University of Maryland said it will take its case to the Supreme Court.

Southeast officials said a Supreme Court decision could have a major impact on the minority scholarship programs at the nation's colleges and universities.

About two-thirds of all four-year colleges have minority scholarship programs.

Southeast offers fewer than a dozen minority scholarships, and those are funded with private endowments, Admissions Director Juan Crites said.

"Most of the scholarships at Southeast are merit-based in some way," she said.

Southeast also has a minority mentor program. The work-study program is open to all minority students.

In the Maryland case, an Hispanic student was turned down for a particular state-funded scholarship, because it was reserved for blacks.

The appeals court ruled it was unconstitutional for the University of Maryland to bar some students from applying for the scholarship solely on the basis of race.

Crites said race-based scholarships have become a major issue across the country.

The University of Missouri at Columbia, for example, has two undergraduate scholarship programs restricted to black students. In all, 225 black students received the scholarships this year.

"We are waiting to see if, in fact, they will offer the same scholarship program again next year," Crites said.

Dr. Leonard Clark, Southeast's affirmative action officer, said he hasn't seen the actual ruling.

He said the ruling may apply to only some minority scholarships.

"The basis on which they award them could make a difference," he said.

But he added, "I think there is a cause for concern."