Fox News host Meghan McCain on Thursday lambasted the Virginia Military Institute's reported use of coloring books to help cadets relieve stress, saying that if the school really wants to help, it should let the students go on leave and "have a few drinks."
McCain criticized VMI's program to relieve stress on Fox News' show Outnumbered, where the panel discussed Washington Free Beacon reporter Elizabeth Harrington's recent story on the use of coloring books by the Virginia Military Institute to reduce stress among cadets–and the subsequent uproar that resulted from it.
"Now the segment you've all been waiting for," co-host Sandra Smith began. "The Virginia Military Institute sparking controversy over a program for its cadets. It offers activities like coloring book stations to help them relax before studying for finals."
Smith did not seem to approve of the program.
"This type of crap, pardon me, is setting these cadets up to fail in the military and the real world," she said.
Tara Kyle, another member of the panel, defended the use of color therapy but described the school giving cadets coloring books as "idiotic."
Meghan McCain also suggested that color therapy can be beneficial to those with PTSD but was not receptive to the school's use of coloring books to relieve stress for its students.
"Making grown men and women color in coloring books, I think that is borderline absurd," McCain said. She also suggested that there are much more worthwhile and fruitful ways that VMI cadets could relieve stress.
"You want to know how they relieve stress? Give them leave and let them do whatever they want," McCain said. "Have a few drinks, hang out with their loved ones. This is not rocket science."
Judge Andrew Napolitano seemed unfazed by the report from the Free Beacon.
"If it works for the kids, if it relieves stress, makes them better soldiers, I don't care," Napolitano said.
Harris Faulkner, agreeing with McCain and Kyle, noted that color therapy can be useful in treating PTSD but decried VMI's program as making the cadets weaker.
Harrington published a story on Tuesday detailing how VMI "offers a 'stress busters' program to provide students with yoga classes to 'unwind and relax,'" which includes coloring stations. The story has sparked controversy at the famed military institute as cadets, alumni, and family members have voiced displeasure either with the Free Beacon report or the school's program.
VMI's superintendent, J. H. Binford Peay III, a retired four-star general, released a 700-word memorandum on Thursday defending the "Stress Busters" program.