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From Georgetownvoice.com:
As students left class in White-Gravenor on Friday afternoon, they might have noticed high-school senior Chris Jordan sitting contentedly in a tent on Copley Lawn. Jordan, of Archmere Academy in Wilmington, DE, was placed on the wait list for Georgetown's class of 2009. Unsatisfied with this decision, he set up on Copley this past weekend with the intention of staying until he received an audience with an Admissions Officer, to whom he could explain his ceaseless loyalty to the University.

Jordan, son of an alumni mother who graduated in 1973 and sister of Elizabeth Jordan (CAS '07), was confident that he had the grades and legacy to be accepted to Georgetown. When he wasn't, he decided to utilize his spring vacation to demonstrate that Georgetown was his top choice. Rather than noisily protest or create a large distraction for the rest of the campus, he emphasized that his visit was intended as a unique means of attracting the attention of Admissions.

"My parents were all for it," he said, referring to his plan to set up a tent adorned with signs declaring that he should not be omitted from next year's incoming class. "It was mostly a family idea."

He met with Admissions Officers Friday afternoon, who responded with what he called a prepared speech, advising him to continue writing letters of interest and staying in touch with the University. He spent Friday evening and most of Saturday in the tent, later seeking respite from the rain that drenched the district last weekend in his sister's Kennedy Hall dormitory. He returned that night to find his tent and sleeping bag gone.

"This pretty much took the wind out of my camp-out sails, and I was forced to return home a day earlier than planned," he said.

According to Dean of Undergraduate Admissions Charles Deacon, Jordan is not the first to partake in outlandish stunts to get attention from the decision makers. A few years ago, one student sent a folding chair through the mail along with a note asserting that he would bring his own seat to class.

However, even with such out-of-the-ordinary behavior, Jordan will remain on the waiting list and be evaluated according to the same guidelines as the rest of his potential classmates.

"Obviously, an action such as this will have no effect on his position on the waiting list," Deacon said.

Georgetown's Early Action policy was designed to give all students who apply for undergraduate admission, regardless of whether they apply early or regular decision, an equal chance at being accepted. The same percentage of students is accepted during each round; 20.9 percent of first year applicants were accepted in 2005.

"We want to get the very best kids at Georgetown," Deacon said, pointing to the fact that Jordan's exploits may give him greater name recognition in the Admissions Office than others, but will not alter his chances of being accepted. "It's not so important to us how much the student wants to come; it's how much we want him."

Deacon explained that although Georgetown is criticized for its national rank, an Early Decision policy helps a university look more competitive. Such policies, popular at many colleges and universities, make it easier to control the number of students who actually enroll because enrollment is binding if accepted.

He does, however, anticipate using the waiting list to complete the class of 2009.