Allan Bakke, a white man, had been denied admission to the University of California, Davis Medical School despite having higher test scores and grades than some minority students who were admitted under a special admissions program designed to increase the number of minority students in the school. Bakke sued the university, arguing that the program violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment by discriminating against him on the basis of his race.
The Supreme Court ruled in Bakke's favor, holding that the special admissions program was unconstitutional because it used race as the sole factor in determining admissions. The Court also held, however, that race could be considered as one of many factors in admissions decisions, so long as it was not the only factor considered.
The Bakke case had a significant impact on affirmative action policies in college admissions. While it did not outlaw affirmative action, it did limit the extent to which race could be used in admissions decisions. As a result of the Bakke decision, colleges and universities began to use more holistic admissions criteria that took into account a variety of factors, including academic achievement, extracurricular activities, and life experiences.
The Bakke case remains controversial today, with some arguing that it was a necessary step to prevent discrimination against white students, while others argue that it has made it more difficult for minority students to gain admission to college.