
Out of rubble of Haiti hotel, online family is born as Facebookers vow to leave no one behind More>>
Cautious US relaunches direct Israeli-Palestinian peace talks after 2 years More>>
Hurricane Earl bears down on East Coast, bringing island evacuations and rough holiday weather More>>
NY Muslim groups decry hostile atmosphere, say bigotry shouldn't impede Islamic institutions More>>
Gunman mad over Discovery Channel programs takes hostages at its offices, is killed by police More>>
As peace talks begin, Obama tells Netanyahu, Abbas the moment must be seized for agreement More>>
Police: Gunman holding 'small number of hostages' in Discovery Channel headquarters More>>
Police: Gunman in Discovery headquarters shot; 3 hostages able to escape safely More>>
OXFORD, Pa. (AP) - Obese students at a historically black college near Philadelphia won't have to take a fitness class to graduate after all.
Lincoln University faculty nixed the idea this week amid complaints the so-called "fat course" undermined a school principle of equal treatment.
The school had initiated the policy to address high rates of obesity and diabetes, especially in the African-American community.
About 80 students had gotten e-mails saying they had to take the fitness course to graduate. The plan was to target students with a body mass index of 30 or above. That's considered obese.
The "Fitness for Life" course will instead be suggested to certain students after a freshman wellness class that addresses a number of health issues.
___
Information from: Philadelphia Daily News, http://www.philly.com
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.