<p>As a Maryland resident, I have to disagree with “The South starts at the Mason Dixon Line”. </p>
<p>I think that people referring to “the South”, are generally thinking of either 1) States that broke away during the civil war, or 2) States that are culturally “Southern”. Maryland is neither. Culturally we have much more in common with other mid Atlantic states such as Delaware and Pennsylvania, and we fought with the Union. </p>
<p>It also drives me crazy when schools try and create their reputation by comparing them to something else. Vanderbilt is a fantastic school. It doesn’t need to be thought of as an imitation of Harvard to get respect. It’s worthy of a great reputation on it’s own.</p>
<p>I also hate the phrase “public Ivies” for the same reason.</p>