The Times today runs seven letters responding to Jennifer Delahunty Britz’s op-ed about how many more girls than boys are going to college, most of which fall into the what-the-hell? category.

Brintz’s essay has hit a nerve: It’s been the #1 e-mailed article on the Times site for the past couple of days.

A theme from female letter writers is that while they once deserved affirmative action, boys do not, because they can not plausibly claim that they have suffered from discrimination.

Probably, but seems to me we just don’t know—I haven’t yet read a good explanation of just why boys are having such trouble getting into college.

Meanwhile, John Tierney weighs in on the subject with one of his typically pointless columns. Forcefully addressing the question of affirmative action for boys, Tierney writes, “After consulting with the federal Education Department, I can confidently report that this discrimination may violate the law — or then again, it may not.”

Thanks, John. Appreciate that.

You probably can’t read the article, because it’s behind the Times’ firewall. But then again, you don’t really need to.