Kicked out of housing — for being too old?
July 11, 2009 by Taylor HanniganPosted in: From the Courts, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views
It’s not a claim you see every day: A student says he was kicked out of university housing because of his age.
The student was 41 years old when he was removed from campus housing at Alabama State University.
His lawsuit against the school claimed a violation of the federal Age Discrimination Act, which bars age bias in programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance.
Unfortunately for the student, his claim didn’t get very far. The court explained that before suing in court, the student needed to file an administrative complaint with the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. He also needed to provide several designated parties with prior written notice of his intent to sue.
The student admitted he did not meet these requirements. As a result, his court case was dismissed.
Cite: McGhee v. Alabama State Univ.
What types of unusual student housing situations have you encountered? Tell us about them in the comments section below.
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July 15th, 2009 at 11:53 am
When a full time student qualifies for a student campus apartment, should this student’s parents be allowed to live with the student.
July 15th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
I am an employee at a historically black university. I, personally and professionally, know a student that is 56 years old and stays in the same dormitory as the rest of the students. As a matter of fact, he more than fits the mold of the traditional college student: he exemplifies determination and the thirst to acquire what we know as a piece of the American dream.
What exactly does age have to do with staying in a dormitory when that individual is there for the same purpose as someone who is younger? If anything, the younger students can only benefit from the wisdom and experience of that older student.
July 15th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
What a disgruntled party “claims” to be true, and what is true are not always the same thing. We are not getting the University’s side of the story because they did not get their day in court. Privacy laws prevent them from commenting on such a matter outside of court. So until then we don’t know why this guy was kicked out of housing
July 15th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Reply to Ruth: It would seem that the parents could be roomies with their child/student only if they qualify for housing. That means full-time student, appropriate GPA, etc. Additionally, most schools have matching systems where, if students list one another, they get placed together in housing.
July 15th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
Reply to Just Mike: You are so right. If the student was behaving as a student, going to class, participating in campus activities, conducting himself appropriately in the dorm, then he would not be in this situation I think. Otherwise why would administratioin single him out and evict him. College’s want to fill dorms-with students. Good students. Typically you would think older students are more focused but contrary to what we want to think that is not so with all males or females for that matter. He must have thrown up a red flag and drew attention to himself. He could have a questinable past and the colleg does not want to let on that they overlooked it. We may never know.
If he is truely interested in school and wants to excel he will find a way. He is an adult?
July 16th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
To Sony Says: Re:”He could have a questionable past and the college does not want to let on that they overlooked it”
I don’t mean that they did not tell HIM the the reason. They had told him why they were theowing him out. They have to by law. I mean they can not tell the public the reason – no matter how trivial, because of privacy laws. If they tell anyone anything more about the case than “Yes, he lived here” the student’s privacy rights have been violated and off to court they go.
He may have simply repeatedly violated a common noise, guest, or alcohol regulation. But, since he is 41 and may have been told by the housing staff to “act his age”, he got the idea to blow things out of proportion and cry “age discrimination”, get a settlement, and finish school with his new money supply.