I think it's obvious from these stories that students are punished for revealing their mental health problems. Whether this is for liability reasons, image reasons, or something else on behalf of the colleges is really irrelevant. The reality is that this is how our society treats those who are sick. In the wider society, most of these students would likely be incarcerated or committed and deprived of basic rights. In that, sense some of the consequences they face are much lighter than what they would face out in society.

'He wishes he had never gone to the health center for help that night; as it turned out, the pills he took just made him sleepy and all he needed was an electrolyte infusion. "I tell all my friends to avoid that place like the plague." he says.'

Essentially what Dan found out the hard way is pretty much the only way to avoid being punished for one's illness: keep it secret. Quite sad, indeed.