Dear MHS president Dr. Anthony Colistra:

I was disappointed to learn of the intolerance taking place at your school. Recently a 13-year-old boy applied to MHS, hoping to gain access to education programs that have helped other disadvantaged youth. But when you found out he was HIV positive, you denied his admission.

The decision was supposedly based on safety concerns for other students. But if you knew anything about HIV, you'd know that there are very few ways to contract it or to give it to someone else.

I see this situation one of two ways: either you and your admissions staff aren't properly educated on how HIV is contracted, or you harbor an extreme bias against those who have the disease.

This young boy deserves an education just like everyone else. Are you willing to be just another entity in his live who denies him an important opportunity, simply based on a health condition?

I strongly urge you to revise your policies and educate your employees further on the nature of HIV/AIDS. As long as you continue this ignorance, you are doing your students and their education a great disservice.

Sincerely,