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Post by purplehaze on Feb 25, 2021 11:35:54 GMT -5
This is a fascinating article about how the Ivies (in this case Dartmouth) have so much power through the resources of their elite alumni. It focuses on the controversy over the elimination (and later reinstatement post one day of the article) of their golf programs. It includes details on the 'slots' for athletes and the concern about too many athletes among the student body. The AD recently resigned under the weight of this problem and other systemic issues in his department. www.globalgolfpost.com/more/dartmouth-golf-elimination-a-sad-and-shocking-story-2-2/ |
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Post by newfieguy74 on Feb 25, 2021 12:04:02 GMT -5
I once read a story--I don't recall where--that discussed why Harvard liked having athletes. Even though the athletes met the minimum academic requirements and could do the classwork they were typically less academically accomplished than their classmates. They formed a cohort who could accept being in the bottom 25 % of their class because they had something else in their lives (sports) that was important to them and because they understood their low class rank was relative to a school full of brilliant people. The reasoning was that this prevented having class valedictorians and people who wrote symphonies when they were 12 have to deal with being in the bottom 25%. This is actually a serious issue because academically rigorous schools have to deal with a lot of depression and anxiety, and even suicide.
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Feb 25, 2021 12:15:07 GMT -5
This reminds me of attending an orientation session with Dean Peace when daughter #1 started at HC. With expert comic timing he told the parents and students , paraphrasing, "You'll have to change your expectations. 90% of you finished in the top 10% of your high school class and now at Holy Cross it will be closer to,,,,,10%"
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Post by HC92 on Feb 25, 2021 12:43:54 GMT -5
I once read a story--I don't recall where--that discussed why Harvard liked having athletes. Even though the athletes met the minimum academic requirements and could do the classwork they were typically less academically accomplished than their classmates. They formed a cohort who could accept being in the bottom 25 % of their class because they had something else in their lives (sports) that was important to them and because they understood their low class rank was relative to a school full of brilliant people. The reasoning was that this prevented having class valedictorians and people who wrote symphonies when they were 12 have to deal with being in the bottom 25%. This is actually a serious issue because academically rigorous schools have to deal with a lot of depression and anxiety, and even suicide. Someone should tell these people that no one in the real world knows or cares what anyone’s class rank was in college. There’s probably a small exception for getting your first job or getting into grad school but it’s far less important than your average college student believes it to be. This is especially so if you have your undergrad degree from Harvard. |
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Post by princetoncrusader on Feb 25, 2021 16:10:51 GMT -5
Excellent article, Purplehaze. Thanks for sharing. I also recall reading the WSJ article referenced. So I guess we will never know what was the real driver of the original decision?
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