Chestnut Hill College Must Follow Anti Discrimination Rules: Report

A Pennsylvania court has ruled against a Chestnut Hill college after the school challenged a ruling regarding anti discrimination laws in the state. In its ruling, the court said Catholic college's are subject to state regulations that prevent discrimination, according to reports.

The court ruled Chestnut Hill College, a private Catholic college in Philadelphia, was subject to the state's anti discrimination laws, after a student expelled in 2012 filed a discrimination complaint against the school in 2012, according to Billy Penn.

Allan-Michael Meads, a black student at the college in 2012, filed the complaint with the state's Human Relations Commission after being expelled just weeks before graduation.

Meads was expelled after being accused of stealing funds from a theater production at the college, according to Billy Penn.

However, the commission found the school had treated white students with lenience when similar situations arose.

The school claimed it was exempt from the anti discrimination policies because private Catholic elementary and high schools are not subject to the rules, CBS Philly reports.

However the court ruled that "colleges, as opposed to parochial schools, perform ‘essentially secular

educational functions,’ thus reducing their religious character.”

"We are disappointed with the Court’s decision," the college said in a statement following the ruling. "We sought clarification of existing law and, while we do not agree with the Court’s reasoning, we respect the Court’s opinion."

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