CHC Faces Discrimination Allegations In Upcoming Hearing

Chestnut Hill College announced in early November that it will face the state’s human relations commission over alleged racial discrimination of a former student, potentially bringing a highly publicized, six-year dispute to a close.

In a confidential email sent to faculty and staff Nov. 7 that was leaked to the news site Billy Penn, Carol Jean Vale, SSJ, Ph.D., president of the college, announced that the school will face a public hearing in front of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission instead of appealing the case to the United States Supreme Court.

“After much consideration, reflection, and prayer, we have decided to permit the PHRC matter to be remanded for discovery and a public hearing,” wrote Vale. “Although we found strong legal precedent to support an appeal to the United States Supreme Court, it is our judgment, that a public hearing is best for all involved.”

In March, it will be six years since Allan-Michael Meads was expelled a few months before he was set to graduate for allegedly stealing school funds while directing a club production of “A Raisin in the Sun.” In 2015, the PHRC found probable cause that the school discriminated against Meads as well as other black students on campus.

The college appealed the case to the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court in 2016 and then to the state supreme court about a year later, claiming that the disciplinary practices of a “distinctly private” and religious institution are constitutionally protected and therefore not under the jurisdiction of the PHRC.

“I think that the school’s reaction is one that makes sense for them,” said Meads. “I’m not surprised, I mean they are considering their school, they have the right to do that. However, I know that I’m innocent, I know that the case should not have gone this far. I’m willing to keep fighting for justice as far and long as possible. I think justice is overdue.”

The school has received a considerable amount of backlash from the city, including public condemnations from both Mayor Jim Kenney and city council, as well as from members of the college community.

“I believe that the result of the lawsuit is absolutely triumphant and that it is one step towards dismantling racism at Chestnut Hill,” said Taina Jabouin, a sophomore at Chestnut Hill College studying psychology. “There is a lot of work today and I’m not sure this school wants to tackle that. They’d rather hide behind proving they’re not racist, rather than check their own privilege and see when they’re being problematic and insensitive.”

Vale was unavailable for further comment, but did address the lawsuit’s resounding impact on the college community in her email.

“I recognize this has been a very difficult and painful time for us all and I deeply regret this has been true,” Vale wrote in the email. “Please know that no decisions about this case were made without thorough research and reflection as we weighed each and every option available to us.”

After his expulsion in 2012, Meads finished his degree at Cheyney University. However, his expulsion has made it hard for him to find a job in the education field.

“Every job that I’ve had to apply for in education, there’s that box that says have you ever been expelled,” said Meads. “And I have to say yes.”

If the PHRC rules in favor of Meads, the school will be required to reimburse Meads for the money he paid to the school that he was accused of stealing, reimburse him for the tuition he spent finishing his degree, pay him the sum of a three-year salary of an average Chestnut Hill graduate, and provide diversity training to school faculty and staff.

Chestnut Hill introduced the Office of Diversity and Inclusion in January 2016 and hired Juliana Mosely, Ph.D., as college officer at the beginning of this semester. According to the school’s website, the office was created to help “cultivate a campus environment marked by equity, diversity, inclusion, and racial justice.” However, some students and alumni still feel as though more could be done to improve diversity issues at the school.

“I personally have experienced many micro-aggressions from the staff and fellow students,” said Jabouin. “When you sit in a classroom as a black woman, you’re expected to answer to every single racially-related topic and defend your right to exist in this country. When a professor can loosely and repeatedly use the N-word in front of black students, you know there is a problem.”

“Allan-Michael Meads’ situation is just a reflection of everything else that is going on [at Chestnut Hill College],” said Thomas Horsey, who graduated in the fall of 2016 and is now a member of the CHC Alumni of Color Collective. Horsey listed the school’s inability to be forthcoming with information about the lawsuit and the lack of people of color in administrative and teaching positions at the college as some of the issues that need rectifying.

“The lawsuit was almost hidden from the students,” said Jabouin, who said that she sought out information about the lawsuit from court documents and other students. “This case doesn’t put them in a favorable light but hiding in the shadows doesn’t either. There needs to be a level of honesty between the school and the students.”

“I think in their head, they think that they have no racist issues. But even if you’re not a racist, you still can make mistakes,” said Horsey. “And I don’t think they understand that.”

Update — Dec. 13

Cecelia Cavanaugh, SSJ, dean of the school of undergraduate studies sent the following statement to The Griffin on Dec. 7 in response to concerns raised in this article.

Chestnut Hill College is committed to our Mission as an inclusive community. We have and follow policies/processes whenever we are made aware of situations in which any person is made to feel uncomfortable, excluded, or experiences possible discrimination or harassment. The College takes any of these situations very seriously. While protecting confidentiality, we address concerns, investigate reports and take appropriate action. We remind the College Community that the following resources are available to them to seek support and/or report incidents.

College Officer of Diversity and Inclusion, Dr. Juliana Mosley, SJH 331, 215–242–7751

Title IX Coordinator, Dr. Krista Murphy, Fournier 144, 215–248–7142

Campus Ministry, Sr. Joannie Cassidy, SJH 348, 215.248.7095

Counseling Center, Dr. Sheila Kennedy, SJH 345, 215–248–7104 ext. 2