The Justice Department issued the following statement on its website:
Justice Department and University of Nebraska at Kearney Settle Lawsuit Over Rights of Students with Psychological Disabilities to Have Assistance Animals in Student Housing
The
Justice Department announced today that the University of Nebraska at
Kearney (UNK) and the Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska
have agreed to settle a civil rights lawsuit brought by the department.
Under the proposed settlement, which must still be approved by the
United States District Court for the District of Nebraska in Lincoln,
UNK will:
“This is an important settlement for students with disabilities not only at UNK but throughout the country,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Civil Rights Division. “Assistance animals such as emotional support dogs can provide critical support and therapeutic benefits for persons with psychological disabilities. The Fair Housing Act requires that universities accommodate students who need such animals in order to have an equal opportunity to enjoy the benefits of university housing.”
“Allowing a student with disabilities to keep an assistance animal is not only required by law, it can mean the difference between having the opportunity to attend college or not,” said Gustavo Velasquez, HUD’s Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “The department will continue to work with the Department of Justice to take appropriate action anytime the Fair Housing Act is violated.”
The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin and disability. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.usdoj.gov/crt. Individuals who believe that they have been victims of housing discrimination can call the Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743, e-mail the Justice Department at fairhousing@usdoj.gov or contact HUD at 1-800-669-9777 or through HUD’s website at http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp.
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pay $140,000 to two former students who sought and were denied
reasonable accommodations to keep assistance animals in their university
apartments; and
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change its housing policy to allow persons with psychological
disabilities to keep animals with them in university housing where such
animals provide necessary therapeutic benefits to such
students.
“This is an important settlement for students with disabilities not only at UNK but throughout the country,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Civil Rights Division. “Assistance animals such as emotional support dogs can provide critical support and therapeutic benefits for persons with psychological disabilities. The Fair Housing Act requires that universities accommodate students who need such animals in order to have an equal opportunity to enjoy the benefits of university housing.”
“Allowing a student with disabilities to keep an assistance animal is not only required by law, it can mean the difference between having the opportunity to attend college or not,” said Gustavo Velasquez, HUD’s Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “The department will continue to work with the Department of Justice to take appropriate action anytime the Fair Housing Act is violated.”
The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin and disability. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.usdoj.gov/crt. Individuals who believe that they have been victims of housing discrimination can call the Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743, e-mail the Justice Department at fairhousing@usdoj.gov or contact HUD at 1-800-669-9777 or through HUD’s website at http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp.
8 comments:
They weren't discriminated against because they were disabled. In fact, they were treated just like anybody else, which is the polar opposite of discrimination.
This could arguably be interpreted to extend to black folk the right to have a pit-bull if they claim having the animal eases the pains of racial discrimination that occurred fifty years prior to their birth.
Or a homosexual who wants to violate the 'no dogs' ordinance of his apartment complex.....claiming that having the animal, as a service dog, provides psychological comfort in the face of homophobes who live in the same building.
what about the right of a student with sever allergies to go to live in pet-free student housing?
Wait until the victimization baiters turn their attention to the "rights" of the damn dogs. It's coming.
I agree with all comments above.....If the animals were indeed true 'Service' animals I believe they have to carry some sort of certification stating that they are in fact a 'Service' animal. All true 'Service' must wear a service vest identifying it as such and tagged as to the service the animal performs.
What's all the fuss? A dog goes to school at Texas A&M and everyone thinks its is great!
2:58 Yeah but some students are unhappy he wrecks the grading curve ;-)
How many protestants are on the Supreme Court? Let me save you some time. Zero.
This merry-go-round just spins faster and faster.... Our Department of Justice wouldn't recognize justice if it hit them, well - if it hit them...
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