August 6, 2012

Hershey School Reverses Denial of Admission to Boy With HIV

The Milton Hershey School will admit a student who was allegedly denied admission because he has HIV, PennLive.com reports. The boy, who has maintained his privacy but is referred to as Abraham Smith, filed a suit in federal court against the private boarding school, which serves financially disadvantaged youth. The Pennsylvania school is affiliated with the candy maker Hershey Company but is independently run. According to a statement from Anthony Colistra, president of the school board, a new Equal Opportunity Policy will be issued to clarify that applicants with HIV are no different from their peers; it will also provide mandatory training to staff and students on HIV-related issues. The school stands by its initial decision not to accept Smith. However, since the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) disagreed with how it evaluated the risks and applied the law, the school has decided to accept DOJ guidance.

To read the PennLive.com article, click here.

Search: Milton Hershey School, Pennsylvania, Abraham Smith, Equal Opportunity Policy, Department of Justice, DOJ

Scroll down to comment on this story.

Previous Comments:

Denise, New York, 2012-08-08 05:34:44
The school stands by it's decision, but based on a technicality it will submit and allow the boy in? So does that mean as soon as they cn come up with a stronger argument to discriminate against HIV+ children they will? Let's hope that so called training they are getting pays off.

Antony Pincombe, Sydney, 2012-08-07 21:38:39
I don't believe in this day and age aschool could get this so wrong. The principal should be sacked.

Jeff, , 2012-08-07 15:08:43
Good for this kid! But I'm sorry, in this day and age, there is not one damn good reason to be misinformed about HIV/Aids. There was no damn good excuse for not accepting this young man. SHAME ON THEM!

David, Atlanta, 2012-08-07 13:27:05
It's really offensive that they "stand by their initial decision" Still. After being forced to admit this child. 8

Kendrick Davis, St Louis, 2012-08-07 13:01:18
I commented on this story when it was first reported. I was moved then at how much education is needed in our society so that HIV+ individuals can receive equal treatment. I am now touched that one more HIV+ person, in this case the young student, is championing the cause. I am proud of him, and wish him luck and continued success as he moves forward.

Richard, , 2012-08-07 12:26:11
How could they "stand by their initial decision?" If they had any integrity, they would just admit to having made a mistake in not accepting the boy in the first place because they were ill-informed.