Discrimination At Harvard University: Where Is The ACLU?

Who doesn't like Cap'n Crunch? The Cap'n has been a favorite around the Wonks morning breakfast table for years. Well... it seems that the Cap'n, Tony the Tiger, and Lucky Leprechaun are no longer welcome at the breakfast table in hallowed old Harvard's dining halls:

Angry cereal fans are lashing out after Harvard University cleared its dining halls this school year of brand-name cereals, such as Fruit Loops and Cap'n Crunch, and swapped them for less expensive, apparently healthier options like Tootie Fruities and Colossal Crunch.''

I was shocked to see they had done this to our cereals," said Harvard senior Cameron Moccari, who last week launched the group ''Harvard Students for the Reimplementation of Brand-Named Cereals" on Thefacebook.com, a popular website that allows students to meet new friends or form study groups. ''They replaced all of the familiar cereals with ones that have weird names and don't taste good."

The disgruntled cereal fans at Harvard have no organized protest plans -- yet -- besides submitting negative feedback cards emblazoned with the message: ''Bring Back Brand-Named Cereals." They say they were not responsible for a December break-in at a residential dining hall that left $1,000 in damages and cereal strewn across the floor.

The annual cost of Harvard's 3 meals-per-day plan is $4,286. In order to economize, there have been several unpopular cutbacks in the quality of meal services lately. One recent money-saving measure was the elimination, in 2002, of Harvard's annual clambake, which featured a lobster for every undergraduate.

On the other hand, students at state schools such as Framingham State College and the University of Massachusetts at Boston still get their Cheerios and Corn Pops.

So.... the question that must be asked is this: If leprechauns, tigers, and pirate ship captains are tolerated at state schools but are excluded from Harvard, why isn't the ACLU doing anything about this egregious instance of discrimination? -------------------------An Invitation: All writers and readers of education-related posts are invited to contribute to the eighth edition of The Carnival of Education. Please send your submissions to: owlshome [at] earthlink [dot] net. We should receive your contributions no later than 10:00 PM (Pacific) Tuesday, March 29, 2005. The Carnival midway will open here at the 'Wonks Wednesday morning. Get additional details about The Carnival here, and the latest edition there.

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