Do you remember which classes you needed to graduate from college? I do and physical education wasn’t one of them. In a aggressive move to curve the obsieity epdicmic facing the youth of our country, specifically the black community Lincoln Univeristy is requiring overweight students to take a fitness class. According to the USA Today article written by the AP, “Officials at historically black Lincoln University said Friday that the school is simply concerned about high rates of obesity and diabetes, especially in the African-American community”.
The requirement is a three credit fitness course that what put in place four years ago for all incoming freshman. It requires students to get tested for their body mass index, a measure of weight to height. If students are above a healthy weight then they are required to take a class that consist of , “Walking, aerobics, weight training and other physical activities, as well as information on nutrition, stress and sleep” said, James L. DeBoy, chairman of Lincoln's department of health, physical education and recreation.
In the article it stated that certain health experts agreed that something needed to be done but felt the move by the college is, “distasteful” because issues such as healthy choices in the vending machines could be addressed by the college.
Tiana Lawson, a 21-year-old senior, wrote in this week's edition of The Lincolnian, the student newspaper, that she "didn't come to Lincoln to be told that my weight is not in an acceptable range. I came here to get an education."
Again, I ask do you remember what requirements you had to take to graduate? Is this discrimination? Is this being proactive? Many colleges require students to take a diversity credit to enrich their minds so why not make requirements to improve the body?
I applauded this college for taking a stand on a sensitive issue, but I want to know what you think.
Why restructure? Does it really do anything?
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15 years ago
If I knew ahead of time that I was going to be tested for weight/BMI and then based on that be told I had to take a fitness class because I was not at the right BMI, I would certainly NOT enroll in this school. That is a bunch of bunk. I simply think the entire student body coming in as freshman need to take this class they are prescribing for 'fat' people. I had to take a phy-ed class for in under grad school. I took Raquetball because it look like a pretty fluff class. I ended up loving it and to this day I still play raquetball. Yes, I feel the policy of testing incoming freshman for the body mass index is discrimination. How many other schools do this I wonder?
ReplyDeleteElizabeth Haraseth
I can't answer your question, but thanks for posting. Have a good day.
ReplyDeleteYes, I remember being required to take a fitness class at each college and university I attended. I attended two community colleges and VCSU. On one hand, while I was taking the courses, I felt like it was ridiculous because I didn't want anyone telling me I HAD to take a fitness class. However, I had a professor at VCSU explain to me it was more about learning different ways of taking care of yourself and not so much as about becoming fit, although that was certainly a portion of the class. Now, I look at our society and the obesity situation and what I learned in those fitness classes and I become more motivated to change my lifestyle habits in order to live a long and happy life. I also think that on some level, these classes help promote health and happiness in society not just how to lose weight and become skinny. Just a person weight number doesn't necessarily make someone happy.
ReplyDeleteWhen I attended VCSU I did have to take a class called Fitness and Wellness and then we had to pick one of three fitness classes (walking/jogging, arobics, or aquacise) as a requirement for graduation. This was required for all students and I think that is fine. I think it is a good way to promote healthy living. I do think the way Lincoln University is going about it is wrong. They need to make it required for all students and not base it on student's personal BMI and weight beacause that is discrimation. Having fitness classes and multicultural classes are a good way to offer classes for a round education but I also think colleges should look at other ways to promote healthy living besides offering a class whether is is making vending machines and eating environments more healthy. On a side note I think high schools should be teaching a required fitness class (other than the normal health class) to prevent obesity and similar issues.
ReplyDeleteLincoln University seems to be discriminating against obese students by requiring them to take a fitness class while average to thin students do not have to take the class. I think the college has a good idea but I believe everyone should have to do it or no one. In college, I actually had to take a two credit fitness/wellness class. I chose to take aerobics but there were other options. At the beginning of the semester everyone took a fitness test. At the conclusion of the semester we took the same test to see if we improved.
ReplyDeleteFYI: VCSU does require undergrad education majors to take a two-credit fitness class.