Higher Learning

People from all different walks of life, encounter racial tension, rape, responsibility, and the meaning of an education on a university campus.

• Director: * John Singleton
• Genre:Drama / Romance / Sport
• Runtime:123 minutes

Cast

Omar Epps : Malik Williams
Kristy Swanson : Kristen Connor
Michael Rapaport : Remy
Jennifer Connelly : Taryn
Ice Cube : Fudge

We first see Malik Williams, Kristen Connor and Remy at the opening freshman pep rally and as they are decorating their rooms. Malik and Kristen meet in the elevator, with Kristen shielding her purse and Malik seeing this and resenting it. There is a montage of each putting up pictures and posters in their rooms. Track star Malik goes to his first practice unprepared, and is chastised severely by the coach.

Kristen meets her roommate, Monet (Regina King), a black girl, and attends a fraternity rush party. Monet and Malik attend a party with other black students, hosted by Fudge (Ice Cube), a black nationalist. Remy, who is Fudge’s roommate, is upset at the loud rap music being played late into the night. He calls security, who breaks up the party. Fudge is upset that they don’t tell the room down the hall to stop their loud “hillbilly” music. Kristen, while walking home, meets Taryn (Jennifer Connelly), a junior lesbian student who warns Kristen about walking alone late at night and invites her to a student group. Malik’s roommate, Wayne, is then introduced, with Malik angry about his filthy bed area.

The next day, Fudge points out the self-segregation of the various ethnic groups on campus. We then see Malik’s first class, with Professor Maurice Phipps (Laurence Fishburne). In the class, Malik’s and Kristen’s names (among others) are called out for having financial problems, embarrassing them. They go to the financial aid office, where Kristen is told she needs a job, and Malik learns that his scholarship is partial, not full. He talks to the coach, who agrees to help him out if he keeps his grades up and works extra hard on the field.

Fudge returns to his room with his friend Dreads (Busta Rhymes), and plays his music loud, disrupting Remy’s studying. When Remy complains, Fudge mocks and threatens him, causing Remy to move out. Later, Remy is beaten by Malik at a video game, then rejects an offer of pool from Wayne and David Isaacs, Remy’s new Jewish roommate. Kristen is then shown getting drunk and leaving with frat boy Billy, retreating back to his frat room. After Billy initiates sex without a condom, Kristen refuses and Billy rapes her. She fights him off, running out crying. Read more

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