Hey Kids! Work for Obama and get college credit!

By Rick Moran

Now why didn't they have independent study projects like this when I was in school?

AP is reporting that the University of Massachusetts has nixed the idea of an Amherst chaplain to grant two hours of college credit for students who campaign in New Hampshire for Obama this fall.

Here's part of the email he was sending around:

“If you’re scared about the prospects for this election, you’re not alone. The most important way to make a difference in the outcome is to activate yourself. It would be just fine with McCain if Obama supporters just think about helping, then sleep in and stay home between now and Election Day.”

Unfortunately for the kids - who no doubt believed it "way kewl" that they could participate in this grade scam - the U of M frowned on the plan, which involved a prof in the History department who was going to offer the credit. A spokesman for the University said, “There is no independent study for credit in the History Department that involves partisan political work, and no such activity has ever been approved."

So much for an easy "A."

When I was in school, the profs all wanted to be hip and "with it" so they acquiesced to all kinds of nonsensical independent study projects including one where the student wanted to study the effects of a 3 day alcohol binge and received 1 hour credit for getting drunk on a weekend and writing about it. Then there were the "peace studies" and "The ABC's of Communes" that were more popular.

If they had offered two hours credit to help the McGovern campaign in 1972, half my school would have volunteered.

Times haven't changed much, huh.