Why do things that could (and should) be handled through a voluntary association need to handled with the imprimatur of government? A BIPOC rock climbing club could easily have been formed and could have furthered the goal of getting non-white people into rock climbing. This did not need to be a class - a class with college credit attached to it, college credit that white kids could not get even when the "white" rock climbing class was full.

Which brings up the question, why on earth is there a college-credit rock climbing class at an Ivy League university? Or any university for that matter? Is college now about teaching hobbies? Is this the new "rocks for jocks" crip course?

The diversity of a College Marching Band - many different flashy colors on ostentatious display while everyone moves in lock step to the same beat.

Cui bono, Conan. This is the 21st century version of the fly-by-night trade school of the last century.

This is the 21st century version of the fly-by-night trade school of the last century. ~ IRA Darth Aggie at May 5, 2021 6:21 AM

Yep. I worked in student loans during the late '80s, the period in which those proprietary trade schools were bilking the system for all they could get. Four-year colleges are now following the same strategy those trade schools followed: Get as many students staying for as long as possible and collect all the money to which the students are entitled.

That's what happens when there's free money flying around with few, if any, controls over who gets it. Student loans have become little more than a bureaucratic carnival game, where the person in the money cage tries to capture as much of the money flying around as possible before time runs out.

The obvious solution is to turn off the free money. Of course how you do that is critical. Turning things off quickly and you bankrupt most universities in the US, public or private.

"At the end of the day," Gavieta said. "There is an issue of inaccessibility for minorities in this white-centric sport "

If whitey lets you climb on their rocks, can they start wearing dreads again?

The obvious solution is to turn off the free money. Of course how you do that is critical. Turning things off quickly and you bankrupt most universities in the US, public or private.

Ben at May 5, 2021 8:05 AM

Couldn’t happen to a more deserving group of scum bags.

Was somewhat hearted to read that the Idaho legislature is stamping down hard on social justice activism in state funded schools. Hope a bunch of others follow.

I feel like the type of people who rock climb are also the type of people who would be really excited to have some minority friends to climb with because they would value diversity.

The lack of accessibility starts waaaay earlier. When I was working with at-risk teens in Philly, I learned some of them had never been to a forest, seen a stream, or walked barefoot outside.

If you want a lot of rock climbing BIPOCs you need to start with hiking BIPOCs or at least leisurely strolling through the park BIPOCs.

When I was an undergrad my school had a gym requirement. I took horseback riding, SCUBA, tai chi, and tennis. They were worth like 1 credit or something. Got my NAUI through it, I'm very glad I did.

It's because they want us to be physically fit as well I suppose.

Just pointing out, the class is open to all students, they just have to want to focus on helping BIPOC climb rocks.

“The lack of accessibility starts waaaay earlier. When I was working with at-risk teens in Philly, I learned some of them had never been to a forest, seen a stream, or walked barefoot outside.”

I know some Jews from Queens, also with no outdoor experience. Seriously though, if you live in one of the five boroughs and have never taken the train out to Coney Island to at least” look”at the Ocean, whose fault is that?

Should I as a tax payer in a state with a University be in the business of force feeding experiences to people who don’t seem to have the gumption to seek them out for themselves?

If you feel uncomfortable and "unsafe" around white people, you need psychiatric help. This is not 1950 where white people routinely drag blacks behind cars (of course that wasn't really true in 1950 either). As a white person I have been the only white person in many different ethnic gatherings as well as in China and Japan. It was always fun. Scared? wtf?

As to whites somehow keeping blacks from rock climbing, how does that work? Do whites stand around guarding the rocks? This goes back to the idea that the whites are so powerful that if they even frown about something POC will run away. Are POC really that chickenshit? I think not.

If inner city kids have never walked in the woods I am sorry but it is their own damn fault. In any big city there are forest preserves scattered throughout the city. As a kid I just went--no one told me I should or shouldn't. You can take the train or bus or ride your bike from anywhere to find one close. It is just BS.

"Do whites stand around guarding the rocks?"

Just the really good rocks.

You need money to take a train or a bus or own a bike, cc.

That's something I learned when I was teaching inner city kids... they don't have the same access to stuff, even if it's the same distance from them as it is for us.

The other issue is parents not letting their kids do stuff alone, especially daughters who aren't allowed to walk around their neighborhoods by themselves.

Cornell is a private school.

Nic, that is freaking glorious.