Sometimes, the best education is the one life gives you.
Students at the prestigious but liberal-leaning Cornell University found that out the hard way last week, when they stormed the office of school President David Skorton to protest a modern-day example of socialism at work.
On Feb. 5, Skorton posted a memo on the school’s website notifying students that all who opt out of Cornell’s health care program next year will be charged a $350 fee, Fox News reported.
Obamacare requires all students to have health insurance, but those already covered are also forced to pay the opt-out fee. And they’re none too pleased.
“Effective next academic year, 2015-16, we will be introducing a student health fee for those not enrolled in the Cornell Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP),” Skorton’s memo said. “As a physician, parent and president, I am proud of our university’s long history of providing quality medical, mental health, education and prevention services on campus. These essential services play a critical role in student well-being and, therefore, success. Yet funding these services — and creating access to them for all students — has been a growing fiscal challenge, and a personal concern of mine.”
About 150 students protested the move by staging an old-fashioned sit-in at Skorton’s office and a main administrative building on Monday, while others turned to 21st century hashtag activism on Twitter with the #fightthefee rallying cry, according to The College Fix student newspaper.
It didn’t take long, though, for some who found irony in the situation to hijack the hashtag, including these tweeters:
