Specter Wants Probe Into Club's Rejection of Black Swimmers

Philly-Area Club Owner Said Campers Would Have Changed 'Complexion' of Pool

The introductory voice mail for The Valley Club outside Philadelphia notes that "things are really starting to heat up here in July."

They weren't kidding.

The private club in Huntingdon Valley, Pa., is denying it practiced racism after coming under fire from parents, bloggers, even U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., because a group of black and Hispanic inner-city campers were asked not to come back to the pool even though the camp had paid membership dues through August.

Valley Club president John Duesler Jr. initially released a statement claiming members were concerned "that a lot of kids would change the complexion" and atmosphere of the club.

"This will not be tolerated," said Alethea Wright, executive director of Creative Steps, Inc., which has run the day camp since 1997.

This evening, the club's Web site carried an unsigned statement saying it simply was unable to handle the volume of camp kids and was "deeply troubled by the recent allegations of racism which are completely untrue."

"Our Valley Club deplores discrimination in any form, as is evidenced by our multi-ethnic and diverse membership," the unsigned statement said. "Whatever comments may or may not have been made by an individual member is an opinion not shared by The Valley Club Board."

But during a day at the club, Wright said she was approached by a 7-year-old boy who asked her, "Am I too black to go into the pool?"