Yale is being accused of discriminating against students with mental health disabilities. They are being sued by current and former students alike, and they are claiming that the university has been pressuring them to leave. Students who were looking to be reinstated were given "unreasonable burdens." Two current students went on record to say the school asked them to voluntarily leave after they were admitted to the hospital for harmful mental health issues. If the students didn't willingly take time off, the school insisted they would be involuntarily withdrawn from courses. The law suit is looking to change the school's "withdrawal policies, including the mandatory relinquishment of health insurance and tuition payments." Karen Peart, the spokesperson for Yale, responded on behalf of the university saying they were working on rewriting policies that were more responsive to students' emotional and financial needs. So far, the policies don't include referring students to professionals or an avenue in which they can seek help. The policy does, however, include the withdrawal of students for self harm or other disability-related symptoms. This policy has been most burdensome for students from "less privileged backgrounds." Yale is taking steps to improve these policies, but people fear they are not enough and aren't happening quickly enough to help students or improve the situation.
By: Sarah Hein
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