Harvard gym policy is going too far

    The Harvard fitness facility will be closed to men for six hours a week in order to accommodate six Muslim women who feel uncomfortable working out in front of men. Here is a link to an Associated Press story regarding the issue.
    This whole situation bothers me greatly. I understand that Muslim women are not supposed to reveal their hair to men who are not related to them, and I try to respect different cultures no matter how much they baffle me. While I am sympathetic to these women, however, I don’t think it is fair to allow them special privileges.
    The question becomes: Where do we draw the line? If these six women convinced the gym to change its policies, then other groups are bound to attempt it as well. Who, then, is to say that African-Americans (or other minorities) can’t have special hours granted to them in the gym because they don’t feel comfortable working out in front of white people? Or overweight people who feel intimidated by thin people shouldn’t have their own time slot? Or women who are tired of men staring at them while they work out shouldn’t have the right to run on the treadmill and lift weights in peace?
    I know plenty of people who don’t work out in public simply because they dislike the gym atmosphere and do not like to be around others while they’re trying to get into shape. I also know that there is little I hate more than when a marathon runner laps me twice while I’m huffing and puffing through my daily running routine. But, the fact is, no one is going to close the gym for me. Or for African-Americans or for the overweight people or for anyone else who would love to have special privileges. But, according to Harvard’s logic, maybe they should. In fact, maybe we should just segregate fitness complexes altogether so that only certain groups are allowed at certain times. It’ll be fun. It’ll be just like before the Civil Rights Movement, except with more factions.
    Bad idea? Yes, I think so, too. But, hey, I don’t go to Harvard. Maybe a better idea is just to designate a small women-only room. These women could also, of course go to a women’s gym, such as Curves or Newladies Fitness.
    In any event, I think Norris, my political science teacher, summed up this situation best when he said, “It embarrasses me that I can only bench press 85 pounds. I’m going to have all females kicked out while I’m in there so that I don’t feel like such a wuss.” Amen, Norris.