Maryland U. to Appeal Ruling on Scholarship

The University of Maryland will go to the U.S. Supreme Court to appeal a court ruling that would effectively eliminate a scholarship program for black students at the university, a spokesman said Friday.

“Our intent is to appeal to the Supreme Court, which is our only recourse,” said Roland King, director of the office of public information at the university.

“It’s something the university feels very strongly about because the scholarship has been very effective in addressing under-representation of African Americans at the University of Maryland,” he said.

The NAACP Legal Defense Fund also condemned the ruling, calling it an assault on the nation’s commitment to diversity and equal opportunity.

In a statement, the fund said: “At a time when we should be encouraging African American youth to live up to their potential and seek higher education, the court’s decision instead serves to stifle hope that African Americans can participate fully and fairly in American society.”

The U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday denied the university’s motion for rejudgment against Daniel Podberesky, a Latino student who is seeking $35,000 in scholarship money he believes he was denied because he was not black.

Podberesky, who filed his suit four years ago, was graduated in May and is now a medical student at the university. Podberesky could not be reached for comment.

The original ruling was in favor of the university, but Podberesky appealed and received a favorable ruling.