Newark, NJ – A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a former Essex County College nursing student who claimed he was unfairly removed from the school’s registered nurse program after a dispute with faculty.
U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton granted the college’s motion to dismiss on Wednesday, ruling that plaintiff Alandre Gonel failed to state a claim under federal law.
Gonel, 47, a Black man of Haitian descent, first graduated from Essex in 2017 with a biology pre-med degree before returning to complete the licensed practical nurse (LPN) program. He later entered the school’s LPN-to-RN bridge program in 2022, completing his first term.
The conflict arose during his second trimester, when Gonel had a verbal dispute with nursing department chair Dr. Gale Gage. He alleged that the disagreement led to biased treatment and, ultimately, his removal from the program. According to court documents, another faculty member told him, “if you want to pass the course, shut your mouth,” a remark Gonel said reflected racial and gender-based discrimination.
Gonel received a grade of 72.81 in one of his courses, below the 75-point passing threshold. He claimed grading errors and procedural irregularities cost him a passing grade, and alleged that his subsequent appeal was mishandled. The college denied the appeal in March 2023.
The court, however, found that Gonel’s allegations did not meet the legal standard required to proceed with his claims of discrimination. The case, Gonel v. Essex County College, is now closed.
