Sign Removed At Pennsylvania College Over Fat Shaming Concerns

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Photo credit James van Kuilenburg.

A Sign at a Pennsylvania college has been removed after some people were concerned it could “shame” someone.

The sign in question at Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA says:

Why not take the stairs if you are physically able? Exercise and strengthen your heart and muscles.
By taking the stairs for 2 flights in lieu of the elevator you will expend 14-20 calories.
Taking the stairs 3 times per day, 3 times per week for 26 weeks, will expend 2184-4680 calories.
During your undergraduate career you would expend the equivalent to 2.5 to 5.4 lbs.
Take the Stairs and becoming more fit!

One student told the campus newspaper The Dickinsonian, “These signs were effectively fat shaming as they promoted weight loss as a positive thing.”

Others felt the signs could be seen as insensitive to students with a physical disability.

Brenda Bretz, the vice president of campus inclusion told The Dickinsonian they don’t know when the signs were put up but it was probably “by a vendor associated with servicing the elevators at some point in the past.”

Bretz added they don’t think the signs were meant to offend anybody but they removed them so that nobody would feel bad seeing it.

 

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