Political correctness - or stupidity of the first order - runs amok at tiny St. Thomas college in Minneapolis when the Residents Hall Association planned a "Hump Day" event complete with a live camel, only to see protests from some students claiming the camel was racist and insensitive to students from the Middle East.scuttle the party..

Washington Times:

The episode has since triggered a social-media backlash against campus political correctness, with critics expressing incredulity over the idea that a camel is somehow culturally insensitive or racist.

“Hopefully this story will be the straw that broke the camel’s back for hypersensitivity on college campuses,” said Andrew Clark, digital press secretary at the National Republican Congressional Committee, on Twitter.

Residence Life Director Aaron Macke told TommieMedia, the school’s online publication, that the organization brought a reindeer to campus in December without incident.

“We had done a program in December where we brought a reindeer to campus for the holiday time, and we did pictures and everything like that,” Mr. Macke said. “We had over 300 students attend—and I think that may have inspired the idea. You know, we have petting zoos that come to campus—we have therapy pets that come to campus around finals time for stress relief.”

Ed Whelan, president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, said on Twitter: “Reindeer, yes, camel, no? … Are college students ‘racially insensitive’ to Laplanders? Or are they just idiots?”

Other students complained on Facebook that the event was disrespectful to animals and too expensive at about $500. Mr. Macke said the camel is owned by a local vendor and specially trained for group events.

RHA president Lindsay Goodwin said in a post on the RHAFacebook page that the event had become too divisive.

“RHA’s goal in programming is to bring residents together in a fun and safe environment where all people can enjoy themselves,” said Ms. Goodwin. “It appears however, this program is dividing people and would make for an uncomfortable and possibly unsafe environment for everyone attending or providing the program. As a result, RHA has decided to cancel the event.”

What about the "divisiveness" of the tiny minority of students who were making a big deal out of this? Why not come down on them - better yet, ignore them - and go ahead with the event?

Does anyone seriously believe there would be a riot over a camel? Sheesh.

This kind of hypersensitivity to complaints that offense will be given (with no evidence offered that anyone would be offended) is actually worse than the politicall correctness. Cowering in a corner in the face of tyranny does not set a good example for kids going out into the world. Standing up to the gimlet eyed radicals who seek to make everyone's lives as miserable as theirs are is what's needed.

And the addition of a backbone to the RHA would be helfpul also.