November 30, 2009
School declares students too fat to graduate
I can’t imagine how it feels to be told you’re too fat to graduate from college, but I’m assuming it doesn’t feel good:
Most college students expect to receive their diplomas on the basis of grades, but at a Pennsylvania school, physical fitness matters too.
Students at Lincoln University with a body mass index of 30 or above, reflective of obesity, must take a fitness course that meets three hours per week. Those who are assigned to the class but do not complete it cannot graduate.
Calculate your body mass index
Now that the first class to have this requirement imposed is nearing graduation day — students who entered in the fall of 2006 — the school faces criticism from both students and outsiders about the fitness class policy.
One of those students is Tiana Lawson, 21, whose recent editorial in the student paper has drawn national attention to the issue. Lawson wrote in The Lincolnian that she would be more understanding if the requirement applied to everyone. She thinks all students, not just those with a high BMI, should have to take the class.
“I didn’t come to Lincoln to be told that my weight is not in an acceptable range,” Lawson wrote. “I came here to get an education which, as a three-time honor student, is something I have been doing quite well, despite the fact that I have a slightly high Body Mass Index.”
Lawson, who told CNN she had been putting off getting her BMI tested until this year, recently found out she would have to take the class. At first angry, Lawson said she is now more “confused” about the requirement.
“I don’t know why they would want some people to be more healthy than others,” she said.
If she’s upset now I can’t wait to see how she’s going to feel when the government takes over our health care system and they start to dictate how much a person can weigh and starts ordering the Fatty McFat-Fats to follow some government devised weight-loss plan.
I’m assuming these kids knew what they were getting themselves into. If you didn’t like the requirement, you should have chosen a different school. So, I don’t feel bad for them. A BMI of 30 is pretty high, so it’s not like these people are slightly overweight, they’re on their way to being obese.
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First off, how did you get that picture of me? Second, encouraging physical fitness is one thing, and my college back in the 80’s required us to take physcial education classes. But denying somebody a degree they have paid for and earned because they failed to take a course based solely on their body mass index is absurd.
I agree with the student that either the class should be required for all or none. My big question is whether or not they charge the students to take this class they require based on their weight. Sounds like racketeering charge to me.
Comment by Karen — November 30, 2009 @ 3:50 pm
This is a new policy, so the students could not have known it would be sprung upon them.
I’m hoping the school is serious. We’ll know when they start revoking tenure from chubby professors.
Comment by mj — December 1, 2009 @ 5:05 pm
I completely agree with you. I’m also slightly hopeful that this will encourage other schools to take similar action. We don’t all have to be the perfect size 2 or 4 (whatever that size may be) but some students are severely overweight. At the same time, though, school is a place for education and I don’t exactly know what the schools defense is for having that requirement. It doesn’t make me feel any less sorry for the chick.
Comment by Leena — December 13, 2009 @ 4:35 am