RUTHFULLY YOURS

Yes, you read that right . . . expectations to do schoolwork at school are oppressive, and it is a very, very serious problem:

“There are people breaking down, dropping out of classes and failing classes because of the activism work they are taking on,” one anonymous student, referred to as “David,” told the Brown Daily Herald.

“My grades dropped dramatically. My health completely changed. I lost weight. I’m on antidepressants and anti-anxiety pills right now. [Counseling and Psychological Services] counselors called me. I had deans calling me to make sure I was okay,” he said.

Now, David did add that he was able to get the deans to give him notes for extensions for his deadlines . . . but said that those were just “bandages” and definitely not enough to make up for those mean old racist professors wanting him to do his homework.

Another activist student, Justice Gaines — “who uses the pronouns xe, xem and xyr,” according to the Herald — explained that the notes should be “more accessible” and “more serious, so that professors will be more inclined to follow them,” because as it stands, it’s ultimately up to the professors to make the final decision on whether to do so.

Hm. Well, David was able to get a note, so clearly, they’re not all that unaccessible. And in terms of making professors honor the notes? Assistant Dean of Student Support Services Ashley Ferranti told the Herald that she estimates they’re accepted more than 90 percent of the time.

So, given this, I have to ask: If having to do course work at college is too much for you — even with an extension — why are you at college? Call me crazy, but I thought that the point of being a college student was to go to classes and complete assignments to earn a degree. How else could it possibly work? You just earn one by going there? By being physically present within a certain radius of a classroom? What exactly do these kids want?

Ugh. This sure does sound tough, but, I think I may be able to help.

If you want to do no college coursework and full-time social-justice work, how about just not going to college and doing social justice work full time?

Brilliant, I know. I don’t know how I thought of it either! What’s more, it can actually save you from racking up all of that student-loan debt that you’re always also complaining about!

Honestly, I don’t see why a social-justice activist would need to spend money on an education anyway . . . it’s so clear that they’re already so much smarter than the rest of us.

— Katherine Timpf is a reporter for National Review Online.