UNC should retain right to choose necessary classes

TO THE EDITOR:

I sympathize with Olivia Blanchard in her argument against lifetime fitness course requirements in her column “Just focus on mind exercise, UNC” (Feb. 5).

But although I agree that the gradual erosion of personal liberties is a grave problem facing every person in this country, I oppose Ms. Blanchard’s sentiments.

By committing herself to an institute of higher education to receive a diploma, it is assumed that she is willing to fulfill the requirements that the institution deems necessary for the acquisition of said diploma.

This is a valid assumption since by paying for the service, she has implicitly (and probably explicitly within some document) granted UNC the right to decide the classes needed to produce a graduate fitting of a UNC diploma. She has given consent to be governed in the realm of course requirements.

Despite this, she should still strive to influence change in illogical course requirements. This is a noble pursuit. But to argue that UNC has no role in students’ physical fitness is tantamount to claiming that the brain functions exclusive of the state of the rest of the body.


Graham Clay
Freshman
Philosophy, Economics