The University of Kansas took a bold step this week when it became the first school in the country to adopt a gluten-free core curriculum for its undergraduates.
At a Wednesday press conference, University Chancellor Douglas Girod proclaimed that “the health of Jayhawk students is our highest priority.” He announced that “The Psychology of Wheat,” the last remaining core course containing gluten, would be removed from the curriculum by the fall of 2018.
Several reporters questioned the logic behind the school’s action, noting that there had never been any courses at the University that actually required students to ingest gluten. However, according to Girod, “research has shown that talking about gluten can be just as dangerous as eating it. We’re not going to put our students at risk any longer. Words matter, and discussions of gluten in the classroom can represent micro-aggressions against those with allergies. Kansas may be the largest wheat-producing state in the nation, but we’re not afraid to take on the grain lobby and do what’s right. Our goal is to create safe spaces for students who wish to have a gluten-free lived experience on our campus.”
The Chancellor closed the press conference by setting a bowl of Cheerios on fire and promising, “Peanuts, you’re next!”