Hold it ! College has gone just an inch too far! Its enough that it casts an arm and leg to pay for a college education and now these institutions are cynical of our weight! The current "Fitness For life" program at Lincoln University in Oxford ,Pennsylvania forces "students with a BMI of of 30 or higher, (reflective of obesity) to take a fitness course that meets 3 hours a week. Those who are assigned to the class but do not complete it CANNOT GRADUATE!" This is ridiculous; I can understand improving fitness goals and adapting healthy lifestyles but being forced to do so is unacceptable.
This topic has certainly raised some questions that i cannot seem to find adequate answers to.The first being FORCED to take these classes?
College is hard work ,it takes sweat ,blood ,and tears to be successful in this world. Imagine how much harder it is when you deal with ridicule, and the thought of not graduating, because your BMI and waist measurement were too high, and you were too out of shape or too busy studying to take the extra class. Telling a student that they cannot graduate because they didn't finish a "P.E" class is both degrading and dangerous ; people these days can blow a nozzle like nobodies business. Instead of forcing these target students to take an extra class why not encourage them to or offer some incentive for there extra time, money, and effort.
The second of these questions would be Who will pay for the "Fitness For Life"(FFL) program?
If institutions like Lincoln University fare going to demand coursers like this for graduation, students should not have to pay. Students could easily go to other facilities for a much cheaper price than a college course would cost. A gym, membership at a YMCA, or maybe just working out at home with good ole Billy Bland from Tae Bo are all, substantially lower cost alternatives to a college fitness course.
Third, What if the student is already adapted an exercise regime?
For these students the FFL rule is a huge slap in the face. Instead of building the student up by applauding or encouraging their effort to improve their life, the institution breaks and tears down the the new foundation the student is seeking to create.
Fourth, Why are only the obese students being singled out for a health goal?
Lincoln University is a HBCU I understand that African Americans are 1.4 times as likely to be obese as non-Hispanic whites , but what about the people suffering from eating disorders like Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia? Don't they need help too? Why not asses everyones health needs accommodate everyone with health benefits?The Chairmen of Lincoln University`s Department of Health and Physical Education , James DeBoy renders a sorry excuse for an answer to this question by saying "obesity is going to rob you of your quality and quantity of life." This statement is sooo very wrong. Do you think people like Mo `Nique, Queen Latifa, and the star of "Precious" are complaining about their quality of life ? Very doubtful. As far as quantity is concerned Ive know people well in their 90`s and early 100`s still living and doing fine.
My fifth and final question would be What class/course will the underweight,moderate or borderline obese students have to take?
There are certainly malnourished and moderate to borderline obese people going to college.if the obese students have to take a fitness class these students should have to take a supplemental health or nutrition class to improve their health.
My point is when everyone has a requirement the load is equal, but when you single people and there feelings out its discrimination.I am not at all against exercise I'm taking a course myself ,but it was my decision, I did it for me, and for my health , not to please everyone else. Your level of fitness should be up to you and how you lose or gain weight should not determine your future.
Monday, November 30, 2009
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