Are you a fatass? No diploma for you!

[Qalbert]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/11/30...ght/index.html

(CNN) -- 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.

But James DeBoy, chairman of the school's Department of Health and Physical Education, says the requirement is just like courses to help students' communications or math proficiency. The faculty also has a priority to be honest with students, he said.

"We, as educators, must tell students when we believe, in our heart of hearts, when certain factors, certain behaviors, attitudes, whatever, are going to hinder that student from achieving and maximizing their life goals," he said.

Moreover, if there were unlimited resources, the fitness opportunities would be for all students, but that is not the reality, he said.

The historically black college receives public funding, but is under independent control.

Obesity increases a person's risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, some cancers and other ailments. African-Americans were 1.4 times as likely to be obese as non-Hispanic whites in 2007, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. About four out of five African-American women are overweight or obese, the agency said.

"Obesity is going to rob you of your quality and quantity of life," DeBoy said. "We believe that this is unconscionable."

The fitness course, called "Fitness for Life," consists of activities including water aerobics, Tai Bo and aerobic dance, he said.

Because BMI is not a perfect measure of obesity, students also have their waist circumference measured, he said. There are some people who have a high BMI because of their muscle mass, but are not actually obese, and the waist measurement is meant to weed out those people.

From a legal perspective, the school's requirement seems "paternalistic" and "intrusive," said David Kairys, professor of law at Temple University Law School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

"The part that seems excessive is forcing them to take this course, or to exercise three hours a week, which isn't a bad idea for them, but should be their choice," he said.

Lincoln is "breaking new ground" with this requirement, as Kairys has not heard of one like it at other schools.

Some students, such as Brittnai Panton, a 19-year-old freshman from Decatur, Georgia, like the requirement. She tested out of having to take the class, but supports having it around.

"Being in this day and age where people are becoming overweight and need more fitness, I think it's a great idea to earn extra credit, an easy extra credit," she said.

Many of her classmates don't find it offensive, she said.

"It is like you're getting a second chance to actually do fitness in school, which certain people wouldn't do," she said. "Many of them find it an easy credit."

DeBoy said 620 students have either tested out or taken the course, with 80 remaining to get their BMI evaluated. He estimates 12 to 15 will need to take the fitness class in January.

When the faculty first approved the fitness course requirement in 2006, there were minimal concerns raised, he said. The intention is to spread the message that people in school, including high school and middle school, need more physical activity.

"This is one university's -- granted it's radical and it's upsetting -- approach to try to begin to directly address" obesity, he said.

That's some seriously heavy stuff.

[Minions]

More like, are you a dumbass and can't follow requirements for graduation. Lose weight, or take a class. So Hard!

[Lbelle]

My school used to have fitness classes but they were all cut due to budgets. Now they're all extracurricular except for scuba diving, which is 2 credits. Guess UF is for fatties!

[Belkin]

Why wouldn't you want to get in shape FOR COLLEGE CREDITS? It hurts my head that people actually complain about this...

[Acturus]

Why wouldn't you want to get in shape FOR COLLEGE CREDITS? It hurts my head that people actually complain about this...

There's a lazy black man joke here somewhere, but I'm not making it.

[Mojo]

College courses cost a lot of money, that's why. Why should students be forced to pay money to exercise? I also don't really see the point of say, having a gym class requirement for an Engineering major or whatever.

[BerenTebogo]

At a CC i took classes at they made it so you had to take at least on physical fitness course to graduate (and pay for it) or have the people at the gym sign off on you working out there like 5+ hours a week.

I loved it, I was there anyways before I found out about the requirement so wtf did I care?

[Lbelle]

College courses cost a lot of money, that's why. Why should students be forced to pay money to exercise? I also don't really see the point of say, having a gym class requirement for an Engineering major or whatever.

did you get picked last for dodge ball

[pohibaba]

At a CC i took classes at they made it so you had to take at least on physical fitness course to graduate (and pay for it) or have the people at the gym sign off on you working out there like 5+ hours a week.

I loved it, I was there anyways before I found out about the requirement so wtf did I care?

Yeah, the Community College I did my GE at we had to take a PE class, well unless you were over 40, or something. Hey, that's discrimination! How dare they?!

[Qalbert]

did you get picked last for dodge ball

They wouldn't let me play, like 3 people would use me as a shield at the same time.
TT_TT

[Serra]

Why wouldn't you want to get in shape FOR COLLEGE CREDITS? It hurts my head that people actually complain about this...

Eh, I dunno.. If they made, say underwater basket weaving a graduation requirement, would you be saying why wouldn't you want to learn to basket weave for college credits?? While being in shape in certainly more valuable than basket weaving, would something like forcing people to take cooking classes, or classes on how to change the oil and take care of their cars, or other things like that be ok?

Of course, on the other hand, you have to take plenty of courses that don't have to do with your major (looking at you foreign language courses), so I dunno if that argument really works. Also, if most schools are anything like Texas was, access to the gyms are included in tuition, so might as well use 'em~

Personally I'm against this because college students aren't kids, they're adults -- at least from a legal standpoint. Thus, they should be able to decide for themselves what's best for them and then have to deal with the consequences.

[Acturus]

College courses cost a lot of money, that's why. Why should students be forced to pay money to exercise? I also don't really see the point of say, having a gym class requirement for an Engineering major or whatever.

By and large (no pun intended) every degree has a set number of elective class hours that have to be completed. Some are required electives, like foreign language. Why can't a PE class be a required elective? It's all the same 120 or so hours.

[Yuri-G]

the rational side of me thinks this is horribly unfair and completely wrong, but the side of me that is sickened by all the fat fucks in the world who seem to take no responsibility whatsoever for their own health is cackling with glee.

[Not Kuno]

I had to take 3 religious courses, I don't really see the difference. If they require it then that's what they require. You should look into your required courses you know, before you sign up to go to school with them.

[Gregorio]

College courses cost a lot of money, that's why. Why should students be forced to pay money to exercise? I also don't really see the point of say, having a gym class requirement for an Engineering major or whatever.

Colleges require students to take all sorts of general studies classes that aren't important towards your major. For example, as a Criminal Justice major I have never gotten any practical use out of information I learned in my Meteorology, Trig, or Mythology classes, but I still had to earn credits in Science, Math, and humanities. I also had to take gym classes in college (got credits to go snowboarding once a week for 10 weeks and only paid $100 for the class. Booyah!). This isn't breaking new grounds in the area of "wasting money on shit you don't care about". It's only breaking ground with lazy fatties.

[Gregorio]

Personally I'm against this because college students aren't kids, they're adults -- at least from a legal standpoint. Thus, they should be able to decide for themselves what's best for them and then have to deal with the consequences.

And part of being an adult is deciding if they should or should not attend a college that has requirements such as this school does. Nobody's forcing them to go to this (or any) college. If they decide taking the class is not whats best for them they can transfer to a different school.

[Overburn]

I had to take 3 religious courses, I don't really see the difference. If they require it then that's what they require. You should look into your required courses you know, before you sign up to go to school with them.

I don't think the complaint is that it's an extra class, it's more that it's singling out a specific group of people to have to take this class. If everyone had to take a P.E Class, that'd make a bit more sense.

[Pirian]

I don't think the complaint is that it's an extra class, it's more that it's singling out a specific group of people to have to take this class. If everyone had to take a P.E Class, that'd make a bit more sense.

Limited budget so make the people who will benefit the most from the class take it. I would have to say that makes perfect sense.

[Guitarman]

Shut up and get on the treadmill you fat fuck!

I approve.

[Mizango]

I had to take 3 religious courses, I don't really see the difference. If they require it then that's what they require.

Yeah, I took Mythology my freshman and Soph. years at USC as well.