<p>John Wesley --I do not refute anything you say about Wesleyan but regarding Vassar, I find it hard to believe that I should consider the 1940s environment as having high relevance in forming an opinion today. I think institutions live in the present and that current context is most important. BTW, Noah Baumbach wrote the Squid and the Whale while at Vassar working with his professors there. That was just recently --I cannot imagine giving a hoot what Jackie O did back when. I am sure what you say about Wesleyan is true --but am not so sure your characterization of Vassar comes from the same in-depth insider frame of reference. </p>
<p>I do not doubt that Wesleyan is more of a hothouse --and that was precisely my question. One person’s hothouse can be another person’s pressure cooker.</p>