Title
Condemning Chestnut Hill College for seeking exemption from anti-discrimination laws in its appeal to Commonwealth Court following a finding of probable cause of racial discrimination by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, in defiance of its obligation to respect the civil rights of its students and employees, and urging the College to withdraw its appeal.
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WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) found probable cause for racial discrimination when Chestnut Hill College excessively punished and expelled Allan-Michael Meads, an African American student, in April of 2012, weeks before his graduation; and
WHEREAS, Meads was expelled from Chestnut Hill College on the grounds of alleged theft consisting of failing to adequately report all money he earned in a fundraising play, providing free tickets to students at a neighboring middle school, donating money to charity, and spending money on a cast party, although Meads offered to pay restitution and none of the aforementioned actions caused Chestnut Hill College to lose money for the production; and
WHEREAS, When white students committed similar cases of theft or even more severe violent crimes at Chestnut Hill College, they received lenient sentences such as mediation or writing reflection papers, always with the possibility of re-enrollment, with the rationale that these measures would allow students time to learn and mature from their misconduct; and
WHEREAS, Those practices sharply contrast with the PHRC's finding that in every case where an African American student was charged with a violation at Chestnut Hill College, the student was expelled or suspended and there was no articulated interest from the college's administration to provide African American students with opportunities for reconciliation or the opportunity to learn or grow from their mistakes; and
WHEREAS, African American students at Chestnut Hill College commit significantly fewer infractions...
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