Bagg: Rethink recruitment
What did we learn from Ned Fulmer?
Was he right? Are Yale athletes mediocre, on and off the field? Absolutely not, and Yale athletes were right to be insulted at the suggestion.
But was the extent of the response warranted? Several people camped outside of his room for a day, and for months, jeers and expletives followed him wherever he went.
Obviously, we cannot take the immaturity of a few to represent the entire athletic community — just as Fulmer’s column didn’t represent all of Yale’s non-athletes. But Elizabeth Moore’s column provoked similar outrage on...
Sam makes a great point about athletics at Yale. if athletes don't want us to think they aren't troglodytes, they shouldn't have reacted in such an ugly, unnuanced way to Fulmer's column. Why don't the athletes who care about their perception do something to change it, instead of perpetuating the sweatpants-in-the-back-row/Toad's Allstar frat fest? There are quite a few athletes out there smarter than I. They should make a stand.
@09er
Because I don't care about your perception of me.
I enjoy being the "sweatpants-in-the-back-row/Toad's Allstar" while at the same time performing well in the classroom and on the field.
It is why I came to Yale.
If we all sought to adapt ourselves because of others' perceptions, things would get very boring around here (WE WOULD START TO LOOK LIKE PRINCETON)
I perceive a bunch of non-athletes as hipster losers, but I don't dare expect them to try to change who they are for me.
Why can't everyone just back the F out of each other's lives?
Yeah, why must I change my decision to judge people by what clothes they wear to class? Athletes, I'm really inclined to judge books by their cover, so you'd better stop wearing sweatpants if you want us to think you're smart.
Smart people don't wear sweatpants.
Sam Bagg misunderstands the purpose of the Academic Index.
It is not to facilitate the admissions process by athletes.
It is designed to restrict it and maintain competitive balance within the Ivy League.
If he wants a "holistic" approach, then you will see certain member schools admitting super-star players with 800 SATs and 2.7 GPAs. Or there will at least be pressure to do so.
The beauty of the Academic Index is that every Ivy League school knows the rules and follows them.
By loosening these rules he only invites a widening of the divide between athletes and regs.
The greater issue of socio-economic extremes in athletics should be remedied by the new financial aid packages.
Currently, Yale coaches can only realistically recruit wealthy athletes who can pay their own way, and very poor athletes who will receive nearly 100% financial aid.
The new aid packages will allow Yale coaches to bring in more middle-class athletes.