Disabled students at Penn State struggle with the numerous physical barriers on campus. "I know that I move in a space and in a world that isn’t built for me," said a student recently in The Daily Collegian. The student describes Penn State as a "slow-moving machine" regarding its prioritization of renovating buildings and generally making the campus more accessible. These are longstanding issues on the campus. "Sometimes, I feel segregated," said a student in The Daily Collegian in 2018.
The Daily Collegian reports that lack of signage and braille, inconveniently located ramps and elevators, and broken push buttons mean that disabled students often have to exert serious time and energy to figure out how to get to their next classes or just to get a bite to eat -- generally mundane and easy tasks for their nondisabled peers. The Boucke Building, which houses Student Disability Resources, has stairs in the front and requires physically disabled students to use the back entrance. How can you claim to foreground disabled students when you make them go around the back?
In 2021, then Penn State President Eric J. Barron announced plans to open a new Center for Racial Justice, "as part of ongoing efforts to address the challenges of racism, racial bias and community safety that persist in our nation." The Center would have advanced research and scholarship on racism and racial bias. However, in 2022, the new Penn State President, Neeli Bendapudi, announced that she was canceling plans for the Center. The Daily Collegian's Board of Editors rightly lambasted the decision, writing that "Taking away the Center for Racial Justice is a bad look for the university. It’s impossible for prospective students who identify as part of marginalized groups to be assured they will feel safe at an institution that doesn't seem to care to prioritize them." In 2024, Penn State announced that it was closing the Multicultural Resource Center, which provided "college counseling and educational services for diverse undergraduate students," according to Centre Daily Times.
Penn State is currently ranked 63rd among national universities by U.S. News. It was ranked 60th last year.
When Valente began advocating to have his original accommodation terms restored he says the university retaliated against him. The lawsuit claims starting in 2023 faculty began soliciting complaints against him, refusing to provide Valente with information about any allegations. In 2024, the university abruptly canceled his graduate-level classes, and he alleges the three doctoral students and one masters student he advised were encouraged to seek alternate advisors.
After Valente filed claims of discrimination and retaliation with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Justice Office of Civil Rights issued a Notice of Right to Sue in November.
The lawsuit alleges the university escalated retaliation by opening an administrative investigation against Valente in January, placing him on leave and prohibiting him from teaching or accessing campus.
Valente says the move effectively cut off his grant funding and prohibited from completing research.
He alleges that Penn State’s conduct has damaged Valente’s professional reputation, opportunities for career advancement, prospects for grant funding, and ability to participate in academic life, as well as causing emotional distress, anxiety, and professional isolation.
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Jessica Henry, an associate teaching professor of counselor education, has also experienced navigating Penn State’s campus as a person with a disability.
Henry was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and teaches a course on disability culture at Penn State.
She said she notices a stigma surrounding invisible disabilities and has personally experienced this stigma as well.
Henry said she uses an accessible hang-tag for parking in accessible spaces.
“People have told me: ‘You shouldn’t park there,’” Henry said.
Along with this, Henry said people have been “violent” and directed “offensive language” toward her. She has also heard student accounts of the “violence and aggression” they receive if people don’t believe them.
“I’ve had notes with swear words left on my car telling me I should not park in accessible parking spots,” Henry said.
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