QU301 Controversy

With Greg Mortenson under fire, Quinnipiac University students are unsure of whether the required reading of Three Cups of Tea in the QU301 course curriculum should remain.
 
 “Despite the controversy, it is still a good story, with good morals,” junior psychology major Ariel Scalise said, “but I don’t think it would hurt to be reprinted in a more accurate version that emphasizes ‘based on’ instead.”

 
The book presents itself as the full truth of “one man’s journey to promote peace… one school at a time.”  Mortenson gained much (seemingly deserved) fame from his story of how his failed effort to summit K2 resulted in the hospitable village of a Pakistani village, Korphe, and a promise to build them a school.
 
This promise resulted in not only one school, but also the addition of a bridge to the community, and a multitude of other schools in the Middle East region through a non-governmental organization (NGO) Mortenson founded and named the Central Asia Institute.
 
However, Mortenson’s claim to fame was suddenly halted last week when his accomplishments were accused of being exaggerated and he was exposed on CNN.
 
Mina Duffy, a junior QU301 student has read the book and also followed up with the accusations from CNN.
 
“I don’t think people should be reading it if it’s not true,” she said, “He should have told the truth from the beginning because what he has done is impressive regardless. Why lie?”
 
Like Duffy, junior ISM major Mat Buono feels similarly saying, “If were reading a book that is supposedly true and its not, it takes away from the story.”
 
It is yet to be determined if Three Cups of Tea will remain part of the QU301 curriculum next semester, but Buono offered his opinion for consideration:
 
“If Mortenson’s name already has negativity attached to it I’m sure there are other humanitarian books that could be substituted in its place for next year. It would just make things a lot easier.”

http://abbiewright.com/gregmortenson