Bowie State University Sues State Over Funding

Bowie State University (BSU) and three other historically black institutions (HBI)  in Maryland, are enmeshed in a lawsuit the state of Maryland over appropriate state funding for the schools, according to Afro.

Lawyers for the Coalition for Equality and Excellence in Maryland Higher Education Inc., who are representing the HBI, claim that by providing better funding and facilities to “white” institutions and by allowing those institutions to duplicate HBI program, the state is perpetuating a system of de facto segregation.

According to Afro, the HBI’s lawsuit is based on both what they perceive as inadequate funding and, “...on Maryland’s 2000 Agreement with the Office of Civil Rights where Maryland agreed to enhance the HBCUs to the point that they could compete with the Traditionally White Institutions,” said Michael D. Jones, lawyer for the plaintiffs.

Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC), who is representing the state, claimed in their summery of conclusion on June 6 that, “nothing in the Constitution or in federal law requires that the State provide HBIs with the enhanced funding plaintiffs seek,” reported Afro.

The lawsuit is only in it’s early stages. Final oral arguments are expected to be heard in October of this year.

Read the full story on Afro.