547 F. 2d 801 - Uzzell v. C Friday

In controversy in this appeal is the legality of the following practices at the University of North Carolina: (1) the continuance of an allotment to the Black Student Movement (BSM), a student">student organization, of a share in the mandatory Student Activities Fees required to be paid the institution on enrollment; (2) limitations based solely upon race on the appointment and membership of minority representatives in the Campus Governing Council; and (3) restrictions based exclusively on race for appointments to the Student Honor Court.

A suit to nullify these intramural practices was commenced on June 13, 1974 in the District Court by two current students, Lawrence A. Uzzell and Robert Lane Arrington, as a class action, naming as defendants William C. Friday, President of the University, its officers and its Board of Trustees. The Chairman and Vice-President of the BSM were later added as defendants.

These practices were assailed as contravening the Fourteenth Amendment, the Civil Rights Act of 1871, 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VI, 42 U.S.C. § 2000d.1 As will appear more particularly infra, the general offensiveness ascribed to the usages is that they contemplate racial qualifications that cause the plaintiffs to suffer disadvantages at the University because they are not of the favored race. As this differentiation derives from the action of a State agency2 the University which admittedly receives Federal financial assistance in the form of grants and contracts, these detriments could constitute deprivations and discriminations condemned in the cited constitutional and statutory safeguards.3

Examining each of the practices in this light, we affirm the District Court's summary judgment on defendants' motions as to financial support of the Black Student Movement but reverse the summary judgments as to minority representation on the Council and the Honor Court.4

With the District Judge we see the plaintiffs as having standing to prosecute each of these claims. See United States v. SCRAP, 412 U.S. 669, 686-87, 93 S.Ct. 2405, 37 L.Ed.2d 254 (1973). Moreover, his rejection of the defendants' motion to dismiss for plaintiffs' failure to exhaust State administrative remedies is accepted under the holding of McCray v. Burrell,516 F.2d 357 (4 Cir. 1975), cert. dismissed as improvidently granted, 426 U.S. 471, 96 S.Ct. 2640, 48 L.Ed.2d 788 (1976).

The President of the Student Body of the University is the chief executive officer of the student">student government. Since 1972, its legislative branch has taken the form of a Campus Governing Council (CGC) of 18 members. They are elected annually by and from the student">student body and each student">student in good standing, like the plaintiffs, is eligible to vote in the election of its members. The judicial branch includes the Honor Court of the Student Body (SHC).

In 1967 a group of students formed the Black Student Movement to promote black culture and identity among black students. The organization was officially recognized by the University and was permitted to use the latter's facilities. It was also assigned office space in the Student Union Building. Since 1969, with the exception of the 1970-71 academic year, the BSM has received yearly appropriations ranging from $6,400 to $12,000 from funds derived from the Student Activities Fees. The money thus provided has been used to support many programs of the organization, including cultural and entertainment events as well as publication of a newspaper, Black Ink.

Upon its inception the BSM adopted a constitution stating that "Any Black student">student can be a member of the BSM." Similarly, as revised in 1971, it declared that "The members of the Black Student Movement shall be every Black student">student enrolled in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill." Now, through amendment in September 1974, the pertinent article provides that members of the BSM shall include any student">student whose views are consistent with the goals of the BSM. So, say the defendants, BSM membership is open to all students supporting its aims. Accordingly, the District Court held the plaintiffs' charges to be moot, dismissing them for that reason.

The District Judge made fact findings that adequately underprop this holding: aside from the BSM's own curative rescission of the race qualification, the actions and representations of the defendants, including the University, are cited to demonstrate the absolute removal of the exclusivity of black membership. In denying relief, he concluded that the indications and probability for future reinstitution of the discrimination showed apprehension thereof too remote to warrant equitable measures. We are satisfied to affirm on these assurances of the District Judge. Uzzell v. Friday, 401 F.Supp. 775, 777-79 (MDNC 1975).5

Plaintiffs challenge the Student Constitution's provisions for membership on the Council as violative of their civil rights in that it stipulates that the Council shall include "at least two Councillors of a minority race within the Student Body (if any), two male Councillors and two female Councillors". They further provide that, in the event an annual election does not produce such representation, "the President of the Student Body, with the consent of the Council, shall make the number of appointments necessary to ensure compliance with this section."

The trial court dismissed for lack of the constitutional jurisdictional exaction that there be an actual case or controversy in this aspect of the plaintiffs' grievances. 401 F.Supp. at 779-81. First, it was noted that these organizational prescriptions of the CGC had never been activated and that consequently "no rights of the plaintiffs have been affected". Again, the Court on this theme concluded that these features of the CGC were "in no way discriminating toward plaintiffs" for they ensure representation on the CGC to all classes blacks, women and males. As an overall reason, however, the Court felt " 'there is no sufficient need for deciding the issues . . . .' Wright, Miller & Cooper, § 3529 at 153". 401 F.Supp. at 780.

We cannot affirm the dismissal, but rather find that plaintiffs stated a justiciable cause of action. We reverse now on the plain and simple ground that, without either reasonable basis or compelling interest, the composition of the Council is formulated on the basis of race. This form of constituency blatantly fouls the letter and the spirit of both the Civil Rights Acts and the Fourteenth Amendment. A reading of them, particularly Section 2000d, is all that is needed for authentication of this conclusion. See footnote 1, supra. Additionally, see: McDonald v. Santa Fe Trail Transportation Co., 427 U.S. 273, 96 S.Ct. 2574, 49 L.Ed.2d 493 (1976); Lige v. Town of Montclair, 72 N.J. 5, 367 A.2d 833 (1976) (No. A-107); Bakke v. Regents of the University of California, 18 Cal.3d 34, 132 Cal.Rptr. 680, 553 P.2d 1152 (1976).

Since October 2, 1974 an accused has been permitted to request that four of the seven judges on the trial bench of an Honor Court be of his or her race or, in the alternative, of his or her sex.6

Plaintiffs' challenge to this article of student">student government was dismissed by the District Judge upon the same grounds as he struck down the present provisions for CGC composition lack of case or controversy. 401 F.Supp. at 781-82. For the same reasons as we disagreed there with the District Court's judgment we do so here: the selection of the SHC panel is related to race with no reasonable or compelling nexus to that classification.

In summary we affirm the decision of the District Court as to the funding of the Black Student Movement but reverse the District Court's grant of summary judgment as to the composition of the Council and the Honor Courts.7 Although the plaintiffs did not move either this Court or the District Court to grant summary judgment in their favor, we clearly have power to do so. Appellees' briefs contain nothing to suggest that we should not follow that course of action if we determine to reverse and, while the affidavits are in conflict on some points, none of these inconsistencies has dispositive significance in the view we take of the case.8

Accordingly, we think it is "just under the circumstances" for this Court to remand with directions that the District Court enter summary judgment for the plaintiffs. Morgan Guaranty Trust Co. v. Martin, 466 F.2d 593, 600 (7 Cir. 1972), quoting 28 U.S.C. § 2106.

Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded with directions.