Black Student Accuses Beauty School Of Misusing Disability To Excuse Harassment

A Black cosmetologist pursuing educator training at a beauty institution in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, has initiated legal action against the school's parent organization, alleging that it failed to address racial harassment perpetrated by a classmate with Tourette syndrome.Yamonnie Pressley enrolled at Empire Beauty School in June and claims her classmate (identified as Student A in her federal lawsuit) stalked her on campus, “persistently hurling racial slurs,” creating a hostile environment.The educator program encompasses both classroom and practical learning, but Pressley asserts the frequent harassment prevented her from attending crucial in-person observations from July to September.Despite alerting school administrators about the detrimental impact on her studies, she contends they dismissed her concerns, citing the classmate’s involuntary actions. Pressley’s lawsuit emphasizes her right to be free from racial discrimination, arguing such behavior violates the school’s own nondiscrimination policies.She seeks a jury trial to obtain “available remedies and damages” while aiming for systemic changes within Empire Education Group.