Family files complaint against Columbia College Chicago after a disabled father was denied use of the school’s restroom
The family of a student attending Columbia College Chicago is pursuing legal action against the school after security allegedly denied the student’s disabled father permission to use the campus’ restroom. (WFLD)
Columbia College, a private, non-profit college located in Chicago, faces impending legal action from the family of a student, after his disabled father said he was denied permission to use a campus restroom.
According to a report by Fox 32 Chicago, Jose Palencia was dropping off his son Jose Eusebio-Palencia at the school's campus on April 4, when he needed to use the restroom. Columbia's security, however, allegedly denied the father access to use the restroom after multiple pleas, and as a result, he defecated.
Palencia has survived two strokes which left him with limited mobility of the left side of his body.
The family spoke out to the media regarding the matter, explaining to reporters what had happened, and the humiliation the father had experienced.
Jose Palencia, a disabled father, and his family walk over to the press as they speak out about how Palencia was denied access to Columbia College campus' restroom by security, April 4, 2023. (WFLD)
"Things got complicated as my dad could no longer hold it. My father ended up defecating himself right in front of staff," Palencia's daughter Jennifer Santoyo explained as she held back tears. "Can you imagine how humiliated that my father had felt at that time? That's humiliating! No one should ever have to go through something like that."
The family has decided to file a complaint with the civil rights division of the United States Department of Justice.
Palencia openly shared the embarrassment he felt after the incident took place.
"Like my daughter said, I was extremely upset and very embarrassed, and most of all humiliated," Palencia stated while addressing the situation."I pleaded with them, constantly, to please let me in."
Jennifer Santoyo fights back tears as she explains how her father was humiliated after the incident. (WFLD)
He further explained the interaction he had with security.
"They just told me to leave – told me to leave the premises, or I was going to get arrested," he said. "I was slowly walking to the car and I don't know if you guys could imagine, but it was horrible."
In a prepared statement shared with Fox News Digital, a staff member of the college's media relations department relayed an apology the school had issued.
"Columbia deeply regrets this incident and has apologized to the family privately and would like to take this opportunity to do so publicly. The college is making sure that its contracted security firm is taking steps to ensure its personnel is following college policies … while Columbia does not have public restrooms, members of the Columbia community, including parents, are allowed to use restrooms on campus."
Jose Eusebio-Palencia speaks against his school in how they treated his father. (WFLD)
Palencia's daughter addressed the college's response to the situation, claiming it was insufficient.
"They need to apologize to my father," Santoyo said. "They apologized to my brother, not directly to my father."
The son, who is in his third-year of attending the college, also spoke out against the school. Despite the college's issued apology, he told the press, "No, that's not enough! That's not enough!"
"Am I supposed to accept this apology for what they did to my father? I've been coming here for three quiet years, getting dropped off here every day," Palencia's son said. "I'm an honors student here, so why did my father get treated this way regardless of policy?"
Jose Palencia tells press that he was embarrassed and humiliated after he pleaded with security numerous times to use the restroom and was still denied. (WFLD)
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The security officers' acts would fall under discrimination against Palencia, and be in conflict with the school policy statement.
"Columbia is committed to maintaining an environment that respects the dignity of all individuals. Accordingly, Columbia will not tolerate harassment or discrimination based on religion, race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, ethnicity, or any other category protected by law by or of its students, faculty, or staff," the statement reads.
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