College Accused of Bias Drops Mandatory Weigh Ins

By Kelly Turner on December 24th, 2009

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You can almost hear the heads of the University say “Ok, Ok, geeze, nevermind…”

I wrote a piece a while ago about Lincoln University’s decision to weigh in all in coming freshman and based in their BMI, send them on their merry way, or require them to take a fitness course they must sweat their way out of.

Most people’s concern was discrimination of the overweight.  My first concern was for those of any weight with weight and health issues and the ramifications of a public weigh in and subsequent classification, and some people’s concern was just what the hell’s business is it of theirs anyway?

The University heard the outrage and decided to make the course voluntary. Lincoln is a predominantly African American school, and is sensitive to anything that could be construed as discrimination. James DeBoy, chairman of Lincoln’s health, physical education and recreation department was quoted saying that for obese people, “a group that is already facing challenges, ridicule and jokes, the concern that was raised [by the faculty] was: Should the university add to that, especially . . . a historically black college or university.”

The program was mean to curb obesity in students by helping those most in need. All incoming freshmen would be forced to weigh in and if the student has a BMI over 30, they will be required to take a course entitled “Fitness or Life.” Students can graduate the course by reducing his or her BMI, or by playing a sport.

Outrage ensued when the public caught wind, accusing the University of discrimination of over weight students by forcing them to take a course others were not required to simply because of their weight- not to mention the public humiliation of being forced into the program.

I applaud the University for trying to do something but why not require all students to take the course- fitness and health is not just about weight. What about those binge eaters who purge afterward? It is not immediately noticeable that they have an issue, therefore they are not in as dyer need of the program? And what about those kids that can binge drink and eat fast food everyday, but not gain weight? Are they more healthy?

Institutions that rely on money cannot make any unpopular decisions if they want to survive. While I would like to think they changed their minds because they suddenly saw how damaging this could be to their students, I can’t help but assume it was due to the negative publicity.