Facts The curriculum at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine identifies nine "core competencies." Ar the top of the list is professionalism, which includes "echical, honest, responsible and reliable behavior." The university's Committee on Students determines whether a student has met the professionalism requirements. Amir Al-Dabagh enrolled at the school and did well academically. But he sexually harassed fellow students, often asked an instructor not to mark him late for class, received complaints from hospital staff about his demeanor, and was convicted of driving while intoxicated. The Committee on Students unanimously refused to certify him for graduation and dismissed him from the university. He filed a suit in a federal district court against Case Western, alleging a breach of good faith and fair dealing. The court ordered the school to issue a diploma. Case Western appealed. 4. What kind of suits can be filed in a federal district court? Issue Should a court defer to a university's determination that a student lacks the professionalism required to graduate? Decision Yes. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit reversed the lower court's order to issue a diploma. The appellate court found nothing to indicate that Case Western had "impermissible motives," acted in bad faith, or dealt unfairly with Al-Dabagh. Reason The 'Committee on Students' refusal to approve Al-Dabagh for graduation was an academic judgment. The court explained that it would overturn such a decision only if it substantially departed from accepted academic norms. There was nothing to indicate that such a departure occurred in Al-Dabagh's case. The plaintiff argued that the committee's decision was a "punitive disciplinary measure" unrelated to academics. But Case Western placed a high value on professionalism in the school's academic curriculum. Al-Dabagh also argued that the university defined professionalism too broadly and that it should be linked only to test scores and similar academic performance. "That is not how we see it or for that matter how the medical school sees it. . . . Our own standards indicate that professionalism does not end at the courtroom door. Why should hospitals operate any differentlv?"' 5. What does it mean to say that professionalism does not end at the courtroom door