St. Joseph Hall (exterior), Chestnut Hill College

by Sue Ann Rybak

The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRS) found “probable cause” exists in a complaint filed against Chestnut Hill College, 9201 Germantown Ave. in Chestnut Hill, by an African American student that claims the college “excessively punished and expelled him” based on his race in a case involving an alleged theft.

In a letter dated July 20, the commission said it found no evidence to support that former student Allan-Michael Meads “intended to deceive, steal, or misappropriate funds.”

The commission report said that disciplinary records obtained from the college showed that the college tended to be more lenient on white students compared to disciplinary measures taken against African American students.

“One hundred percent of the African-American students charged with a violation were either expelled or suspended,” the report found. “Many white students that were found liable for violating student codes of conduct either received no discipline, warnings, mediation, reflection papers, fines or probation.”

In a letter posted to the school’s Facebook page, college president Sr. Carol Jean Vale promised to fight the ruling in court.

“The college maintains that it acted appropriately and reasonably given the facts of this case,” the letter reads, “and we look forward to a hearing before the PHRC.”

Kevin Feeley, a spokesman for the college said that discrimination played no role in the case.

“The college wants a hearing because we believe that when all the facts in this case come to light, the college's decision in this case will be upheld,” he said.

In an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer on Nov. 24, Allan-Michael Meads said, “he filed the complaint because the college treated him unfairly.”

“I want to be a voice for those who are afraid to speak up and stand up and get my name cleared,” he told the Inquirer. ““I want off my record. There was no theft.”

According to the PHRC’s report, Meads, who was scheduled to graduate in May 2012, began plans to put on a production of “A Raisin in the Sun” in the fall of 2011. The play was planned in collaboration with the African American Awareness Society and was purposed to give 20 percent of its profits to the Lupus Foundation. Four performances of the play occurred in February and approximately 300 people attended each performance.

Meads, who worked as resident assistant at the college and mentored at a local middle school, gave about 80 complimentary tickets to middle school students and businesses that provided discounts on items he purchased for the play, the document said.

A day after the last show, Meads, who grew up in Montgomery County and now lives in Philadelphia, gave $500 to the Lupus Foundation.

According to the document, on Feb. 28, 2012, the college emailed him “reminding him that the money from the performance had not yet been deposited.”

The report stated the college “calculated that there should have been approximately $2,248 in profits from the attendance and concessions for Complaint to deposit.”

The report went on to say that the college expelled Meads because “he was not truthful in reporting proceeds from the play and expended money for his own benefit, including eight-hundred dollars ($800) on a cast and crew party.”

Meads’ punishment was, according to the PHRC, far greater than those given to white students for similar violations of the college’s white students.

A copy of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission's report can be read here.