What is unlawful harassment or discrimination? When Must a Complaint Be Filed?However, there are often differences between the legal definitions of discrimination and what people may experience as discriminatory. Administrators, parents, and other students have targeted Palestinian students and caregivers with discriminatory treatment. Discrimination is against the law. Discrimination means singling out, selecting, or separating one thing (or things) from another, or other things. Section 19.1 – Grievance Defined a). Definition. The governing body state must treat an individual in the same manner as others in similar conditions and circumstances. Permissible Discrimination. This framework for thinking ethically is the product of dialogue and debate at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University.