The College Fix

Faculty and students from Hood College, as well as local residents, took part in a “March on Frederick (Maryland)” early yesterday.

Supposedly evoking “the same spirit” as the famous 1963 March on Washington, more than 1,200 trekked roughly two miles through the Maryland town.

There was just one … “minor” issue: Attendance at the march for some students was mandatory. The Frederick News-Post reports (emphasis added):

Helena Hammond-DoDoo, a senior at Hood, called the march a great concept that needed better execution. Participation was mandatory for some student groups whether people were truly interested or not, she said.

“If we have absent-minded people sitting here not really listening, what have we really done?” she said.

Many students, like freshman Katie Hippert, said they view civil rights as “freedom for everyone.”

Emilie had a more clear-cut definition: “the right for anyone to go and do whatever they please, as long as it’s lawful.”

Hammond-DoDoo said she believes equality is so broad now that it is difficult to achieve. People should drop preconceived notions and adhere to the basic principle of “treat others the way you want to be treated,” she said.

Walter Olson at Free State Notes offers:

Expecting people to join a cause march whether they are inclined to or not. Expecting them to join a flag salute and pledge of allegiance whether they are inclined to or not. Similarities/differences?

Read the full Frederick News-Post article here.

h/t to Instapundit.

Like The College Fix on Facebook / Follow us on Twitter

IMAGE: Emily Mills/Flickr