High court avoids larger ruling on university's affirmative action admissions policy
By Bill Mears, CNN Supreme Court Producer
Washington (CNN) - The Supreme Court side-stepped a sweeping decision on the use of race-conscious school admission policies, ruling Monday on the criteria at the University of Texas and whether it violates the equal protection rights of some white applicants.
The justices threw the case back to the lower courts for further review.
The court affirmed the use of race in the admissions process, but makes it harder for institutions to use such policies to achieve diversity. The 7-1 decision from the court avoids the larger constitutional issues.
Transgender first-grader wins the right to use girls' restroom
By Ed Payne, CNN
(CNN) - A transgender first-grader who was born a boy but identifies as a girl has won the right to use the girls' restroom at her Colorado school.
The Colorado Rights Division ruled in favor of Coy Mathis in her fight against the Fountain-Fort Carson School District.
Coy's parents had taken her case to the commission after the district said she could no longer use the girls' bathroom at Eagleside Elementary.
In issuing its decision, the state's rights division said keeping the ban in place "creates an environment that is objectively and subjectively hostile, intimidating or offensive."
Coy's mother, Kathryn Mathis, said she's thrilled that Coy can return to school and put this behind her.
The first-grader has been home-schooled during the proceedings
"Schools should not discriminate against their students," Mathis said. "All we ever wanted was for Coy's school to treat her the same as other little girls. We are extremely happy that she now will be treated equally."
I will graduate with $100,000 in loans
By Jennifer Liberto, CNNMoney
Washington (CNNMoney) - When Kelly Mears graduates from Union College in the summer of 2015, she will have $100,000 in student loans.
Armed with a political science degree, Mears will join more than a million Americans who have racked up breathtaking amounts of student debt.
Mears is also one of 7 million undergraduates caught in the middle of a debate in Washington over government-subsidized student loans, as interest rates are set to double to 6.8% from 3.4% on July 1.
"It just seems to be a part of the growing American experience to go to school, graduate and work off that debt for the rest of your life," Mears said.
Super-borrowers with $100,000 of student loan debt aren't the norm. The average student graduates with $27,000 of loan debt.
The New York Fed said those who borrow $100,000 or more are about 3.1% of borrowers nationwide. But it's easy to see how students get there, with four years of private college tuition running $116,000 on average, according to the College Board.
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