21.   It plays out in the court fight over the financing and autonomy of historically black state colleges in Mississippi.

22.   James Carlin, chairman of the state Board of Higher Education, which oversees all the state colleges, said Thursday he is closely monitoring the situation.

23.   Last year, Rowland proposed cuts in the education budget, while this year, he added money for schools and state colleges.

24.   Last year, a federal appeals court held in Hopwood vs. Texas that state colleges could no longer consider race in admissions.

25.   Like most education officials, Carlin talks often of raising academic standards and upgrading the caliber of students admitted to state colleges.

26.   McGreevey ordered across-the-board spending cuts and reduced funding to state colleges, all but assuring tuition increases next year.

27.   Many state colleges have also adopted higher admissions requirements, which can act as a barrier for students from poorer schools.

28.   Most urban state colleges began employing armed police officers at least a decade ago.

29.   Ohio, for example, requires any male not registered with Selective Service to pay out-of-state tuition at its state colleges and universities.

30.   Other state colleges raised nine times more than those in this state, and community colleges nationally outpaced Bay State schools by nearly four times.