'Condoleezza Holds a Watermelon'

Some people believe that political statements probably don't belong in a mathematics course. I agree.

From SeattleTimes.com:

(Bellevue, Washington) Bellevue Community College Board of Trustees issued a statement Saturday condemning the behavior of an instructor who wrote a racially insulting math question recently brought to the college's attention by students.

The math question is considered contrary to the college's core values of respect for diversity and elimination of stereotypes.

The question began, "Condoleezza holds a watermelon just over the edge of the roof of the 300-foot Federal Building, and tosses it up with a velocity of 20 feet per second." It went on to ask when the watermelon would hit the ground, based on a formula provided.

BCC President Jean Floten wouldn't name the instructor who wrote the question, however, she said there was no intention to connote the negative caricatures of blacks eating watermelon. Instead, according to Floten, the instructor was fascinated with the name "Condoleezza." Yeah, right. Notably, before being rewritten the question logically referenced the entertainer Gallagher who at least uses watermelons in his comedy act.

As corrective action, the math department issued an apology and the college announced the creation of a new vice-president for diversity and blah, blah, blah. No mention was made regarding the oozing liberalism of an infected institution of high learning.