Anders Behring Breivik, who is in jail for killing 77 people and wounding 242 in the 2011 Norway Attacks, in which he bombed several government buildings in Oslo and then killed 69 people, mostly teenagers, at a camp, is applying to college. And he might be admitted.
According to a piece in The Local Breivik has
applied to study politics at the University of Oslo, triggering fevered debate among university staff, who look likely to be forced to accept him.
Ole Petter Ottersen, the University’s Rector, said: “I understand that there will be reactions. It is human.” But he explained that the University would assess Breivik’s application on its own merits.
“We cannot refuse anyone the chance of studying at the University of Oslo,” he said. “We have to follow the technical rules for admission.”
Ah, the Scandinavian countries and their “technical rules for admission.” Apparently there is no disqualification for mass murder.
In America, of course, we use holistic admissions criteria, so we can easily reject someone like Breivik on character grounds alone. Being convicted for killing 77 people is enough for rejection, though often our prisons have agreements with colleges to provide instruction for inmates, though these are generally open admission programs.
If Breivik is admitted to the program he will study remotely. Breivik, 34, received Norway’s maximum prison sentence and will likely remain incarcerated until he dies.[Image via]
Update (8/8/13): The University of Oslo has rejected Breivik’s application for admission.
