Federal complaints against Harvard University's alleged discriminatory admission practices

Students walking on the UCLA campus.

As decision nears in Harvard affirmative action case, another legal fight brews in California

In the next few months, a decision is expected in a case involving Harvard University and alleged discrimination against Asian American student applicants. But the University of California system is also facing a similar lawsuit — with allegations that administrators are considering race in admissions even though California bans the practice. A scandal is also raising larger questions about merit in college admissions and who has unfair advantage.