HARRISBURG - A former Pennsylvania State University Harrisburg student filed a lawsuit on Feb. 25 against the university for discrimination allegations, according to documents from the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
Plaintiff Aaron Frazier was a student in the Applied Clinical Psychology Program pursuing his Master's. Frazier suffered from mental illnesses including major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, the suit says. Despite being a good student and generally receiving all As, his disabilities prevented him from completing schoolwork efficiently, the suit says.
After his grandfather passed away, the plaintiff struggled with a depressive episode that worsened with time. The university accommodated his extended deadline requests and Frazier completed his courses successfully, but continued to struggle in his internship program, the suit says.
The plaintiff complains that the university did not help pick a proper internship program, and he consequentially ended up at a company that had a toxic environment before Frazier's arrival, T.W. Ponessa.
Frazier's complaint includes being "drowned in emails" and demeaned by his supervisor, who allegedly sabotaged his internship by assigning him clinical patients before he was given the proper clearances to see them.
Despite many attempts by Frazier to sort out the clearances with the university and the internship, he was dismissed from T.W. Ponessa. Frazier met with university faculty to find a solution to the problem and ensure he still get the required amount of internship hours, but the suit alleges that the faculty did not follow up on the meeting as promised.
Penn State set up a second meeting with the plaintiff, not informing him that it was a meeting intended to dismiss him from his academic program. It also did not allow Frazier to have his father as a notetaker and support person at the meeting, the suit says.
Frazier alleged one count of discrimination pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and one count of discrimination pursuant to the U.S. Constitution. He is requesting judgement, compensatory damages, attorney's fees and other appropriate relief.
The plaintiff is represented by Raffaele and Associates, LLC, of Bryn Mawr.