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Deanna Randall is a high-school senior. Since she was in the sixth grade, she’s dreamed of attending Chesapeake University, a large, prestigious college located on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Not only does CU offer one of the best programs in the country for marine biology, which is what Deanna wants to study, but her father and aunt both graduated from there, and school pride runs deep in her family.
She’s studied hard throughout high school, made good grades, and even is taking three advanced placement classes this year. Deanna is on track to graduate in the top 10 percent of her class. In addition, she’s heavily involved in both school and civic organizations, including student government and her area’s youth council. By anyone’s standards, Deanna is a model student and an example to her peers.
But no one except for her family, her therapist, and her school guidance counselor knows the difficulties she’s faced for the last four years. During her freshman year of high school, Deanna found that she was persistently sad, didn’t enjoy the activities that once excited her, and began to develop a negative self-image, mentally criticizing herself for everything from the way she looked to the way she acted. It didn’t help that her parents, both highly educated and successful, put a lot of pressure on Deanna to be the best.
During a routine physical, Deanna mentioned how she had being feeling to her doctor, who suggested that talking to someone in the mental-health field might be beneficial. Deanna was referred to Dr. Malone, a respected psychiatrist in her area. After several sessions with Dr. Malone, Deanna was diagnosed with depression coupled with low self-esteem, and began a course of antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication combined with psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, sessions.
It’s now been four years since Deanna began seeing Dr. Malone. Her self-esteem is healthy. Her depression, which she now knows is caused by an imbalance of chemicals in her brain, is being treated. Deanna is feeling better now than she has in a long time, and she is looking forward to life beyond high school.
Deanna’s guidance counselor knows about the challenges Deanna has faced, and he has given her special attention throughout her high-school years. He knows that Deanna is bright and motivated, but worries that a large institution, like CU, might be too impersonal for someone like Deanna. He has told her in the past that she might want to consider looking into a smaller school, one that would provide a more nurturing environment. However, Deanna has told him many times that she only wants to go to CU.
The day that her acceptance letter comes from CU is one of the happiest she can remember. Deanna has not only been accepted early admission, but she has been offered a full scholarship. As she sorts through the package of housing information and meal-ticket plans, one form catches her eye. The university has adopted a new policy that requires all incoming freshmen or transfer students to submit a complete mental-health history. The form indicates that Deanna’s admission to CU may be based on whether she submits a record of her diagnosis and treatment.
Explore the following questions related to Deanna’s right to privacy versus Chesapeake University’s right to protect its student body, which will include Deanna. Examine both the university’s perspective as well as Deanna’s.