Too Fat to Graduate

[Anti-Social Darwinism]

They've made the grades, they've completed all the academic requirements, but they're not going to graduate.

Why? They're too fat.

This is a traditionally black university. The students, faculty and administration are well acquainted with discrimination and prejudice, but apparently the aren't acquainted with it well enough to know when they're doing it.

http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/2 ... e-obese%2F

[Blouman Empire]

No they are acquainted enough with it but it is only bad when it happens against you.

[Piepin]

There is no such thing as too much pie.

[Wilgrove]

Is the class a requirement to graduate though?

[Epione]

They've made the grades, they've completed all the academic requirements, but they're not going to graduate.

Why? They're too fat.

This is a traditionally black university. The students, faculty and administration are well acquainted with discrimination and prejudice, but apparently the aren't acquainted with it well enough to know when they're doing it.

http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/2 ... e-obese%2F

I am not sure why it is necessary to mention that the school is traditionally black. How does that impact the nature of the policy itself?

Did students agree to this policy before they entered the school?

[Achesia]

Hey, if it curtails obesity, then go with it, worth a try.

[Barringtonia]

Is the class a requirement to graduate though?

This is what I understand from the article..

That's right: the historically Black College has a new requirement for graduation. Students must either have a BMI below 30 (a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese) or complete a one-semester "Fitness For Life" class.

I had to complete two language courses, entirely unrelated to my degree, in order to graduate, as well as one other course of my choosing, for which I chose psychology.

So, for me, a Fitness for Life class for 1 semester is hardly a massive burden.

[Gauntleted Fist]

Is the class a requirement to graduate though?

Yes, if your BMI is above 30 as a freshman.

[Wilgrove]

Meh, if they either failed the class, or didn't take it, then that's their own damn fault for not reading the college course catalog.

[Newmanistan]

You can't say this isn't discrimination, sorry. It's not about their fat, or their unhealthiness. It's about discrimination, something you think a black university would be aware of in society.

No one should be required to take a "Fitness for Life" class because they are otherwise over a certain weight. If all students had to take it, I could understand it, but requiring only the fat students to, is discrimination. No other way about it.

Sue the school, kids.

[Wilgrove]

Also, I am annoyed by the "Black college should know better!" News flash, blacks can be bigoted, discriminating assholes too.

[Kalibarr]

they should just require the class, now they'll get sued.

[Achesia]

You can't say this isn't discrimination, sorry. It's not about their fat, or their unhealthiness. It's about discrimination, something you think a black university would be aware of in society.

No one should be required to take a "Fitness for Life" class because they are otherwise over a certain weight. If all students had to take it, I could understand it, but requiring only the fat students to, is discrimination. No other way about it.

Sue the school, kids.

And the law suits start rolling, plus Im sure it stated the rules somewhere when they signed up for the college, therefor its their own fault for not paying attention.

[Dempublicents1]

If they're going to go this route, they should probably just make the class a requirement for everyone, instead of tying it to one particular measurement that isn't going to give them a good picture of the health of the students. Not everyone with a BMI over 30 will necessarily need the class (many will already know whatever you're going to teach them) and many below will be living rather unhealthy lifestyles and could probably use the course.

Other than that, it seems odd, but not particularly heinous. If the students all knew about the requirement before now, it's really their own fault that they'll need an extra semester to graduate.

[Newmanistan]

I had to complete two language courses, entirely unrelated to my degree, in order to graduate, as well as one other course of my choosing, for which I chose psychology.

So, for me, a Fitness for Life class for 1 semester is hardly a massive burden.

This isn't about taking electives that are unrelated to your major. All college students have to do that. This is about the school requiring something additional of you simply because of your weight. I know nothing about you, but if you had a lifestyle trait or characteristic about yourself that was in the minority and the school said you had to take an additional class separate from the general requirements for graduation among the majority that doesn't have that trait/characteristic, you wouldn't be that happy about that.

You can't say this isn't discrimination, sorry. It's not about their fat, or their unhealthiness. It's about discrimination, something you think a black university would be aware of in society.

No one should be required to take a "Fitness for Life" class because they are otherwise over a certain weight. If all students had to take it, I could understand it, but requiring only the fat students to, is discrimination. No other way about it.

Sue the school, kids.

And the law suits start rolling, plus Im sure it stated the rules somewhere when they signed up for the college, therefor its their own fault for not paying attention.

Doesn't mean what was in print can't be challenged in a court of a law as discriminatory.

[Sibirsky]

You can't say this isn't discrimination, sorry. It's not about their fat, or their unhealthiness. It's about discrimination, something you think a black university would be aware of in society.

No one should be required to take a "Fitness for Life" class because they are otherwise over a certain weight. If all students had to take it, I could understand it, but requiring only the fat students to, is discrimination. No other way about it.

Sue the school, kids.

I agree. However "weight" is not a protected class.

[Free Soviets]

this is a good idea in principle, though i object to using bmi as the test-out. or at least the only test-out criteria. because i hover around a 30, but have a 'fit' body fat % and climb mountains and shit. bmi is only really good at the population level.

[Achesia]

You can't say this isn't discrimination, sorry. It's not about their fat, or their unhealthiness. It's about discrimination, something you think a black university would be aware of in society.

No one should be required to take a "Fitness for Life" class because they are otherwise over a certain weight. If all students had to take it, I could understand it, but requiring only the fat students to, is discrimination. No other way about it.

Sue the school, kids.

And the law suits start rolling, plus Im sure it stated the rules somewhere when they signed up for the college, therefor its their own fault for not paying attention.

Doesn't mean what was in print can't be challenged in a court of a law as discriminatory.

Yes But you can help being overweight, meaning you can change and lose some weight, therefor I don't think they have anyone to blame but themselves.

[Lord-General Drache]

While I understand their motivation is to try to curb obesity and get the kids in shape, it's up to the individual to change his or her own lifestyle to become fit. Changes like that, when forced, don't stick.

[Land of Rising Sun]

While I understand their motivation is to try to curb obesity and get the kids in shape, it's up to the individual to change his or her own lifestyle to become fit. Changes like that, when forced, don't stick.

And as much as I agree that it is unhealthy and unattractive, it IS your body.

[Lord-General Drache]

While I understand their motivation is to try to curb obesity and get the kids in shape, it's up to the individual to change his or her own lifestyle to become fit. Changes like that, when forced, don't stick.

And as much as I agree that it is unhealthy and unattractive, it IS your body.

Exactly, sir/madam.

[Free Soviets]

No one should be required to take a "Fitness for Life" class because they are otherwise over a certain weight. If all students had to take it, I could understand it, but requiring only the fat students to, is discrimination. No other way about it.

i had to either take math classes in college or test out. i tested out. is it unfair for people less good at math to be forced to take classes i didn't have to?

[Newmanistan]

Yes But you can help being overweight, meaning you can change and lose some weight, therefor I don't think they have anyone to blame but themselves.

I agree that they have no else to blame but themselves, and can make "too much pie" jokes like anyone else, but this just isn't something a school should hold back an otherwise earned diploma over. (other then the contraversial class they can take). The school should encourage them too lose weight as much as possible but this school goes to far.

(I also think.... yet again... it happens in Pennsylvania (where I am from) )

[Land of Rising Sun]

While I understand their motivation is to try to curb obesity and get the kids in shape, it's up to the individual to change his or her own lifestyle to become fit. Changes like that, when forced, don't stick.

And as much as I agree that it is unhealthy and unattractive, it IS your body.

Exactly, sir/madam.

Finally, A Father Knows Best state that makes sense.

[Sibirsky]

Yes bizarre as it is, I am afraid it is legal

Weight/obesity not a protected class. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protected_class