In Bayly v. University, the Supreme Court of the United States was asked to decide whether a university had the right to deny admission to a student based on race. The plaintiff, Bayly, was a black student who had applied to the University of Mississippi but was denied admission due to his race. Bayly argued that the university's policy of racial discrimination violated the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution, which guarantees equal protection under the law. The Supreme Court held that the university's policy of racial discrimination was unconstitutional. The Court reasoned that the Fourteenth Amendment prohibits states from denying any person the equal protection of the laws, and that this includes the right to pursue an education. The Court further held that the university's policy of racial discrimination was not a reasonable exercise of its police power, and thus violated the Fourteenth Amendment. The Court's decision in Bayly v. University established that universities cannot deny admission to students based on race. This decision has been cited in numerous subsequent cases involving racial discrimination in education, and has been instrumental in ensuring that all students have equal access to educational opportunities.

In Bayly v. University, the Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a university could be held liable for damages caused by its negligence in failing to provide adequate security measures on campus. The majority opinion found that the university did not owe any duty of care and thus could not be held liable for damages resulting from its failure to protect students from harm. Justice Field dissented, arguing that universities have an obligation to take reasonable steps towards protecting their students from foreseeable risks of harm and should therefore be subject to liability when they fail in this duty. He argued that universities are responsible for providing safe environments where learning can occur without fear or danger, and as such must exercise due diligence in ensuring student safety through appropriate security measures like locks on doors or guards patrolling grounds at night.