A recent graduate of Stonehill College filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday in Boston against her school, claiming that it did nothing to help her get away from her sexually-active and disruptive roommate.
The lawsuit, filed by lawyers for Lindsay Blankmeyer, seeks monetary damages from the school. It claims they violated her rights under the Fair Housing Act.
Blankmeyer, a New York native, started attending the school in 2007. She suffered from depression and attention deficit disorder, according to the lawsuit.
She was doing well until her senior year when she began living with a new roommate who is identified only as Laura in the lawsuit.
“More disturbingly, Laura would have sex with her boyfriend while Lindsay was trying to sleep just a few feet away,” according to the complaint. “Laura would also engage in sexually inappropriate video chatting when Lindsay was in the room.”
The “toxic environment” led to Blankmeyer’s depression worsening and the need for more treatment, according to the lawsuit.
The complaint then details Blankmeyer’s discussions in the spring of 2011 with her resident assistant, residence director and other school officials as she attempted to seek a single room and a solution.
However, she eventually left the school, moved home and finished her degree from New York.
Fair Housing
The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status and handicap (disability), according to the U.S. Department of Housing.
Stonehill reviewing complaint
A spokeswoman for Stonehill College said the school had received the complaint Thursday morning and would only release a statement.
“We are reviewing the complaint, which focuses on a previous roommate issue. There are two sides, and sometimes more, to every story. We will be responding to the complaint,” said Martin McGovern, director of communications and media relations at Stonehill.
Located in Easton, Stonehill describes itself on its website as a “selective Catholic college” with more than 2,300 students and a $162 million endowment.
