Following waves of protests putting the focus on its discriminatory policy, Pennsylvania's Milton Hershey School (founded by the chocolate kingpin) has reversed its decision and will offer admission to HIV positive students. Details follow. 

In December we reported that the Hershey School denied entrance to a 13-year old due to his HIV status. Hershey Milton officials said they could not allow students with "chronic communicable diseases that pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others" into the school because they were "a direct threat to our students."

Anger enraptured the country soon after mainstream media picking up on the news, with a Change.org demanding the school reverse its policy launching and Ryan White's mother releasing a statement saying that the situation “brings back horrible memories of what Ryan had to go through."

Finally, after over half a year of protests, Milton Hershey School President Anthony Colistra has announced a policy change.

Our new process is already in effect. We are issuing a new Equal Opportunity Policy clearly stating that the school treats applicants with HIV no differently than any other applicants. We are also developing and providing mandatory training for staff and students on HIV issues and expanding our current training on Universal Precautions [steps to prevent HIV infection].

Better late than never, Instincters?

(Source and image: ThinkProgress)

Comments (0)

Name

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (registered users only)

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Add Comment