Too Fat to Graduate at Lincoln University? December 1
Forget about the 4.0’s, if you attend school at Lincoln University like Tiana Lawson does and you have a clinical body mass index (BMI) over 30, then you can kiss graduating goodbye – at least until after you complete the required fitness education class designed for those who fit under this category. A BMI of over 30 is indicative of obesity.
Pennsylvania’s Lincoln University reportedly took a rather radical step towards addressing the health issues that may be brought about by obesity. The school requires students whose BMI test results indicate obesity to take a three hour a week fitness course. Students who get this as a required class will not be able to graduate unless they complete the course, regardless of the fact that they had already completed the required academic course work towards finishing their respective degrees.
Twenty-one year-old three-time honor student Tiana Lawson wrote an editorial in the student newspaper, The Lincolnian, expressing her views about the ruling. She wrote: “I didn’t come to Lincoln to be told that my weight is not in an acceptable range. 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.”
James DeBoy, chairman of the Department of Health and Physical Education for Lincoln University gave the following statement: “Obesity is going to rob you of your quality and quantity of life,” indicating that the purpose of the ruling is to ensure that its graduates are fully capable from a health perspective to achieve their life’s goals. While we do appreciate the University’s end goal, we would have to disagree with their method for achieving that goal. The last time we checked, we still lived in a democracy, and that freedom should not be more upheld than in our various institutions of learning.
When we come to think of it, it is not just the clinically obese who need to exercise three hours a week. And just because someone’s BMI is well within normal range does not mean that he or she does not have risk factors that may lead to heart disease and diabetes. While health truly is a concern, we agree with Lawson’s point that it should be an option that a student is willing to take; and if such a rule does need to be implemented, then it should be required of everyone.
Tags: high BMI, obesity disadvantages, obesity problems
Cheryl Dec 1
Firstly, let’s remember equality.
Let’s look at the entire staff, janitors included, and apply equality of body mass to EVERYONE.
BMI over 30, you can no longer be dept head! BMI over 30 you can no longer teach classes!
BMI over 30 you can no longer be dean!
BMI over 30 you can no longer sweep floors.
Get the point hypocritical, unamerican, IQ less than 30 Lincoln University administrators.
Student body mass protest, bovcott, sit in, etc well in order.
Watch out for this obamabite mentality,students.
Are there vending machines on campus pumping out salt, fat anf cholesterol with the blessing of these same administrators, GFR!
ceebee Dec 4
Unreal. The rules/requirements should be for everyone. Not for a specific class or target. That’s discrimination.
Schools in general are just a joke and a waste of money. Schools are nothing but broken promises and dreams. They teach people nothing of real value. The only thing schools teach is how to be subservient under a “one world government”. No free thinking, no creativity, no independence in schools.
Better off using the internet for learning and education. You learn a lot more than being inside the box. A degree/dipolma is nothing but a piece of paper.