<p>Whitman is "clearly stronger?" Hmmm...not necessarily so. Their SAT scores may be higher, but I would argue that SU trumps them in many faculties. "More academic assets?" Say what? Be specific, because I would challenge that immensely. SU's academic assets include its extraordinary faculty and much larger library than ANY of the schools you suggest. I am not into bashing schools and I hesitate to even go out on this argument plank with you.....Whitman, Lewis and Clark, Willamette, Reed are all fine schools. Unique in what they offer. But SU is every bit as much a great school. And SU has something that the others dont have and never will have: Jesuit ethics and ethos.</p>
<p>As for SU's sad history with basketball, it is what it is (was). Its over and its buried. They have worked very hard to get up to Division II and now have applied for a return to Division I, likely to join the league with Gonzaga and Santa Clara. I applaud that move. We ALL know that Division I sports is a huge help for recruiting top students and improving the overall public image of a school.</p>
<p>But ask ANY major employer in Seattle or around the Northwest about SU graduates and they will tell you they are among the highest paid, most sought after because they come out prepared, able to think and write, and have a sense of community from their Jesuit ethos. </p>
<p>To me it deserves a much higher profile than it gets. I am a big supporter of many Northwestern schools, not just SU. I just think SU is special and deserves to be applauded. Like I said, even in the dark days of the 70's, it was still providing a SUPERIOR education for an incredible value. </p>
<p>I dont want SU (or any school for that matter) to become a school for the very rich or privileged or only for people with SAT scores above 2100. It serves the community and admits kids with above average profiles and makes them stars and wonderful human beings...teaching them not WHAT to think, but HOW to think. The same can be said for Gonzaga, Santa Clara, Saint Louis University, Loyolas (all of them), Xavier, BC, Holy Cross, Fordham, Canisius, John Carroll and all 28 of the Jesuit Colleges in the United States. Georgetown is out on a limb by itself....just kidding. </p>
<p>If you did not mean to be demeaning in your remark about historically producing nurses and teachers, then I accept your "explanation.' SU has a superb School of Nursing and a very good School of Education, that offers the Ed.D degree. But they are not the ONLY areas of study for females as SU, particularly the last 40 years. Many have been business, science, engineering, fine arts, language, history majors and gone onto careers in the private sector, government, professional schools etc. Some have become Bank Presidents. </p>
<p>This is the problem with ranking schools by SAT scores. It is a grave disservice to those institutions who are not in the glorious top 25. </p>
<p>If someone really wants to go to Whitman in Walla Walla, I applaud them and congratulate them. But some want a different experience, an inner city experience, in a world class city: Seattle. And SU is very deserving as the Jesuit School of Seattle, a real gem on Capitol Hill. </p>
<p>For what it is worth, one of SU's finest graduates reached the rank of 3 star general and was recently the Commander of the Fourth Infantry in Iraq. A HUGE task. </p>
<p>As you can see, I am VERY protective of Jesuit Schools. And part of that protection is due because they are so holistic and equitable in their admissions process....they are much more willing to take a chance on a kid and see what happens. How do I know this? Because I was one of those high risk kids who underperformed in High School, entered the military during the Vietnam Era, and came out....looking for a home. The Jesuits welcomed me with open arms and money....and turned my life around. I graduated with HIGH HONORS because I was so darned grateful for them taking me in on a spotty high school transcript....that I was determined NOT to blow the opportunity. I went onto graduate school and also outperformed MANY kids who came from a privileged background and from some hoity toity schools. </p>
<p>I use my Jesuit "training" every day of my life. I positively adore them. So when someone says they want to attend a Jesuit college, I do what I can to encourage them. </p>
<p>Just the same, if someone wants to go to Seattle Pacific, PLU, UPS, Reed, Whitman, Whitworth, Willamette, Lewis and Clark, Occidental, Pepperdine, Pitzer, Scripps, Harvey Mudd, Pomona...you name it...I applaud them and encourage them. </p>
<p>I come out of my chair and put up a vigorous defense, as you can see. </p>
<p>Peace.</p>