Sunday, December 6, 2009

Health and Higher Education


Today, after pressure regarding equal treatment of its students Lincoln University dropped a new requirement that all students on campus with a Body Mass Index score of over 30, the definition of of obese, take a fitness class. This historically black college had launched the policy to try and address the health of its students especially considering the high rates of obesity and diabetes in African American Community.

Similarly, universities around the country are banning smoking on their campuses. The University of Kentucky banned cigarettes and other forms of tobacco on their school grounds several weeks ago and Columbia University's Morningside campus is also considering a smoking ban.

Should Princeton have mandatory fitness classes of ban all smoking on campus?
What is a university's proper role in protecting the health of its students?

1 comments:

Anonymous said...

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/12/01/obesity