http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/11/30/lincoln.fitness.overweight/index.html
Lincoln University, in Pennsylvania not Missouri is requiring students who have a Body Mass Index (BMI) at 30 or higher to take a physical fitness course that meets for 3 hours a week and complete the course in order to graduate. A 3 time honor student wrote an editorial wondering why all students are not required to take the course. She has a "slightly" high BMI as she put it and is required to take the class. I like the idea.
Should a university take this kind of step? Seeing as Lincoln is an HBCU it's not surprising. HBCUs take steps to put students on what they perceive to be the right path i.e. visitation hours, curfews or no visitation at all, limited coed dorms, etc.
The article states 12 to 15 students will need to take the course in January. 620 students have tested out or taken the course with 80 remaining to be tested. The article didn't specify but I think those numbers are for the first class (entered Fall 2006) to fall under the requirement.
Monday, November 30, 2009
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this screams discrimination lawsuit to me. if this were ASU there would have already been one...
ReplyDeletei think the issue would be that they are not making everyone take the class. being exempt because of a BMI standard is a bit weird. a center on the football team is probably in better shape than some scrawny kids meeting the BMI. I think everyone should take it OR test out prior. that way it is fair to everyone in terms of hrs and tuition paid. if you are in shape BMI-wise, great---test out but you shouldn't get a flat out pass. that makes the requirement seem vain... health is not always tied to physical apperance but sounds like this standard may skate down that road (if you are a lawyer) of correlating the two. this seems similar to some schools having a swimming requirement... you can test out prior (all students)....
it's a great idea, what's the article link?
ReplyDeleteTrey, it looks like there is a test-out option.