Alas yes. I also think that many students are already programmed to look for these kind of courses out of high school. After all what could someone majoring in one of these pseudo disciplines do except teach social studies in HS or become a lawyer/politician.
Separately, how could someone who repeatedly votes for liberal politicians say no to their child when the child says I am taking this type of know nothing course?
As to the course itself, the IRB point raised is very important: I hope Duke takes note. I also believe that the net result of this type of "research" is what you would get from a meeting of NAMBLA, namely self legitimation of illegal and/or morally reprehensible behavior. The whole effort is childish: When you study the trivial, you get trivialities.
IIRC some 'research' is exempted if it is part of a class project. Asking personal questions like that wouldn't be exempt though, IMO.