<p>Yeah, it does in a sense because that’s one less venue through which Emory can be marketed or garner attention. Also, as a newcomer that could even use lots of improvement on the academic front (I mean I love it so far, but some things could be done much better), this is the potential source of school spirit that we need. </p>
<p>UChicago has an awesome research/intellectual rep., JHU is known for all things healthsciences, and so is WashU due to the very high-ranked med. school (3 isn’t it). when Emory started to rise, it was a somewhat spontaneous whereas all the others were already known for doing something really well before we even arrived on the scene. It is difficult to compete with history when you have no big time athletics and happen to be the newcomer to top national universities. Emory is basically trying to use it’s money to propel itself forward, which is sensible. Emory needs to capitalize on what it can do academically, especially in terms of undergrad. teaching. It needs to be more innovative if it ever really wants to rise. It needs something that is a bit different from peers that are very similar. If you read stuff on what the University’s goals are (strategic plan for example), they sound good, but it seems we have trouble following up. And Emory sometimes goes on the right track with some ideas perhaps launched in one dept., but then that idea is eventually thwarted by the status quo. Basically, Emory needs a sense of direction. Unfortunately, it is struggling to do so, and is still just going with the flow of the green ocean of cash. And honestly, some of the money could go to better use. We’re still a very young institution, and it’s obvious. But I like watching it gain maturity over time, even through this recession. I think Emory will eventually get where it needs to be.</p>
<p>Basically, we have our problems and growing pains, but I think it’s actually a really vibrant campus. Especially for one lacking sports. The diversity makes it seem like a cultural center of some sort. You see some of the most interesting and random cultural scenes on campus (rather it be an event or a mere individual). The campus is designed and feels much different than other schools architecturally and socially. It feels even weirder considering it’s location in the southeast. I personally think it’s interesting to see the Tibetan Monks on campus. They normally appear very frequently in the spring (beautiful by the way. Trees are in bloom and it’s not hot to the point where all the plants are burning like it is now. Often the colors of flowers/blooms coordinate and contrast well with the buildings). However, since the Dalai Lama is returning, they may appear earlier in the fall semester.</p>