In This Issue:

- Will the U.S. Supreme Court Uphold Race-Based Affirmative Action? pages 1 - 3

- UCLA and Professor Face Fines and Criminal Charges in the Aftermath of Fatal Lab Fire pages 4 - 5

- Law School Dean Subject to Personal Liability under Civil Rights Act of 1871 for Alleged Political Discrimination in Faculty Hiring page 5 - 6

- Tax-Exempt Bonds Have Been Issued, Now What? page 6 - 9

- Understanding and Avoiding Pitfalls Surrounding Research Misconduct pages 9 - 11

- Recent Decision Underscores Importance for Schools to Secure Related Internet Domain Names pages 12 - 13

- December 2011 FERPA Revisions pages 13 - 14

Excerpt from Will the U.S. Supreme Court Uphold Race-Based Affirmative Action?

By Christina D. Riggs

The United States Supreme Court will evaluate the issue of race-based affirmative action in higher education for the first time since 2003. The case, styled Fisher v. The University of Texas at Austin, has the potential to eliminate any consideration of race in university admissions.

Petitioner Abigail Fisher, a white female, brought suit in 2008 after she was denied admission to the University of Texas at Austin (UT), claiming she was discriminated against on the basis of race. Fisher challenges UT’s admission policy, which considers race among other factors, violates the Constitution’s promise of equal protection.