On April 21, 1997, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Brown University’s appeal from a decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit that mandates preferential treatment for female college athletes. The First Circuit ruled that Brown violated Title IX and discriminated on the basis of sex when it eliminated four varsity sports teams — two men’s teams and two women’s teams. WLF argued that the First Circuit’s decision directly conflicts with Supreme Court precedent prohibiting affirmative action and quotas.
