<p>1) Quick history lesson on Vanderbilt. It has ALWAYS been a place of tremendous balance. It epitomizes the “work hard, play hard” attitude, has had geographic diversity since the dawn of time (even Mr. Vanderbilt’s endowment stated he wished to bind together the pieces of the nation). Here’s where it turns sour. Somehow, for some outrageous reason, the powers that be (Gordon Gee) decided that this simply wasn’t enough and that the approval of the Northeastern Liberal Ivy Grad SIMPLY MUST BE HAD. Solution? Rape the culture, change nearly every policy over a decade (quick examples off of top of head, BYOB policy at fraternity parties = 2004, Commons Iniative & Residential Colleges = 2007, even a huge amount of the courses have been RENAMED and RENUMBERED to correspond with Ivies), dismantle alumni base and start anew, recruit JEWS!!! Look, I’m a huge fan of Jews, example: Judah Benjamin is my favorite historical character, look him up. But that does NOT change the fact that it is absolutely pathetic to RECRUIT Jews (1% 1999 15% 2008) just to jump a few spots in rankings and Northeastern Prestige (again, feel free to reference some of Gee’s quote’s in Hustler archives).</p>
<p>2) I’m obviously biased, but that doesn’t change the fact that I know what I’m talking about and am spot on the money. Reference hope4freeride’s post and then re-read mine. Trust me, that’s no sole occurrence. I live in an area with quite a few Duke (in its heyday), Vanderbilt, UVa, etc… grads and know of more than a few families that are no longer annual donors after their kids were rejected. My father is an alum and I guarantee you he’d have stopped as well.</p>
<p>3) “In America today, I think most ppl have a concept of on nation and not antebellum ideals where there is a distinction between regions”. I could write a god dang thesis on this one. Try not to find this too offensive, but as a “republican” you should probably know a thing or two about states’ rights. This country was founded as an entity in which your patriotism to your state (or region in this aspect) always superseded that to the federal government. Southern people are far and away the most patriotic people in this nation, go have a look at the recipients of the Medal of Honor to confirm that one. Basically, to fast forward 30 pages without going all ADD, Vanderbilt was a Southern school, has a Southern identity, and it is a disgusting sham to pillage its identity and culture in order to make it more suitable for Ivy League rejects.</p>
<p>4) You immediately went on the defensive when neither you nor your friend were attacked. YOUR point of view represents the wrong with the liberal media and its brainwashed constituents. Obviously there are many black applicants with appropriate qualifications, and they have every right to attend. Affirmative action is a policy that exists and DOES benefit minority groups. FACT: There ARE unqualified blacks that attend Vanderbilt not playing sports. It is a pathetic excuse for fairness and completely hypocritical for two reasons: 1) It is racism meant to…combat racism? In Vanderbilt’s case, they have rid legacy status as a factor in admissions, but KEPT a FAR more ludicrous factor.</p>
<p>Your Jewish friend probably is more qualified than a comparable Southerner on paper. ON PAPER. </p>
<p>This is how you need to look at it. The same jobs are paid higher in NYC than Charlotte, NC. Take a look at living expenses, and guess what, they equate!!! Vanderbilt does not ADJUST for context, it’s that simple. I can name on one hand the people I know that paid for SAT tutoring lessons, but it would take a notepad to mention the deb girls I know. Upbringings are different and priorities are different. Success at Woodberry Forest is VERY different than success at Phillips Exeter.</p>
<p>Whatever I wrote here was probably an illegible rant as you fired me up and I don’t have much time, but let me say this,</p>
<p>Vanderbilt is THE best school in the country STILL. Even with these radical changes, it will be another 10 years before that will change. It is not as great as it was in 2000, but in nowhere else in the world will you find any institution that is a member of the greatest athletic conference to grace the Univerise yet also has beautiful women, phenomenal academics, sits on a national arboretum but somehow also in the middle of arguagbly one of the more fun cities around, and has served as a bastion of Southern gentility for over eight generations.</p>