I’m intrigued @surelyhuman, thanks for bringing the book to attention and parsing some of the info. People may critique UChicago for trying to be like Harvard, and I can see why coveting an endowment like theirs, or a generally more known brand name; what’s wrong with that, as long as the means of getting there isn’t like Harvard’s. (don’t get me wrong, Harvard is no doubt a great institution, but these other things are not going too great for them right now.)
So many facets shine at UChicago in addition to its steadfast academic rigor: free expression, inclusivity (looking so opposite of Harvard, now that their admissions practices are coming to light), forward-looking, a thought-leader, not playing it safe, stating things boldly and loudly, to name a few.