Hershey residents torn on school's decision to ban HIV student
Posted: Dec 02, 2011 10:08 PM EST Updated: Dec 03, 2011 5:16 PM EST
By Gretchen Gailey -
HERSHEY, Pa. (WHTM) - Residents of the Chocolate Capital are giving their thoughts on Milton Hershey School's decision to deny the application of a Philadelphia boy who tested positive for HIV. Several thought the school's decision was wrong. A petition has begun online and thousands across the nation are signing up and saying it's wrong.
"Just being around someone that is HIV positive isn't going to put you at risk for having it,"said Najiba Emabi of Mechanicsburg.
But that's not a risk that the Milton Hershey School is willing to take.
"He should have the opportunity with the AIDS thing and unfortunately it's been around for a number of years now. I think we have controls in place. It's sad to see someone excluded because of that," said Steve Klick of Hershey.
"I think it's a bad idea that they wouldn't allow him in, especially with all the knowledge that they have today and all the precautions that people know how to take, I just think they should have allowed him to get into the school,' said Debbie Hagan of Mechanicsburg.
A petition has started on the web site
www.change.org, asking people to stop discriminating against an HIV positive 13-year old. It says, "It is particularly disappointing to see such small-minded bigotry promoted by an educational institution."
The petition received more than 2,000 signatures in less than 24 hours. Some disagree and say the school needs to think about the other students' safety first.
"For someone who has a disability, I can understand they should be allowed to be in a school, but when you've got a communicable disease that could potentially be spread to other people. I have a problem with that," said Paul Rabon of Hershey.
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