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The funniest part of this thread is less than half the students at Vanderbilt are from the south.
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<p>And the probability that a current --and bored-- Commodore is toying with a few unsuspecting members of this board is as high as Tiger Woods winning another green jacket. </p>
<p>Like he'd say, "Yall be played!"</p>
<p>Gerald gave himself away as a spoof very early on in this thread.</p>
<p>One giveaway was the reference to the DKE house at W&L- there is not a DKE chapter at W&L.</p>
<p>Another giveaway was the statement that "we are members at Augusta." Anyone who knows anything about Augusta knows that the "family" is not the member there. There is only one member at Augusta, and unless that person is on the grounds his family is not permitted, and even then a member is limited to no more than three guests at a time with family members included as guests. It is definitely not your typical "family" country club.</p>
<p>Finally, Augusta does not have a "waiting list," or even a membership application/procedure. Basically, one receives an invitation from the Chairman, and the Chairman can invite whoever he likes.</p>
<p>Gerald did get the desired PC reaction from many on this board. There is definitely a very negative bias here toward schools in the South (even when a majority of their students are not from the South) or schools with a large Greek scene. </p>
<p>It might interest many here to know that of W&L's 1754 undergrads in 2006-2007, 769 were from "the South" (including 64 from Florida, which may or may not be considered "the South"), 508 were from Maryland and points North including New England and the Midwest, 53 were from California and the Pacific Coast states, and 83 were International students. Hardly a group of unreconstructed southern rednecks sitting around waving the Confederate flag and figuring out how to secede from the Union.</p>
<p>I think what bothers me the most - is the attitude - even unspoken - that says I AM ENTITLED!! Entitlement and the cocky umbra - 'I will get in - no question - to all three schools' 'I can walk-on (regarding his sports)' presents to us old fogies - that we don't have a clue LOL. I also see that the OP has difficulties with his peers - which he has stated in several different ways - regarding school choices - doesn't want those peers (present ones) involved in his college career - makes me wonder why - especially when the education it self is much more important. There are many more non-peers on campus's all across the south - and north and west....... etc...</p>
<p>There have been some very good suggestions made on this thread - when one sorts thru the junk - and excuses made for all of them. Hope this kid actually and eventually - finds a place to call 'home' - that fits the lifestyle that he seems to want - ooo well - hopefully he won't be accepting a spot that another great student could well have had - to live the 'fun' life he indicates - only to get a 3.5. I would hope that he would seek higher aspirations - to be the best that he can be - and a gentleman - in the process.</p>
<p>HEY XIGGI - eyes wide open LOL</p>
<p>I think he's real. Google Augusta and there's an article that says there is a waiting list currently with 300 who are waiting to be invited in. I've met people like him before, although I'd hoped that attitude had "aged out". Apparently not.</p>
<p>Gerald-</p>
<p>I wish there were more people like you in the north. Unfortunately states like Massachusetts are overrun by whining liberals who want to change our fine institutions just for the sake of changing them. Affirmative action in all facets of life have destroyed the Christian values that are country was founded upon. I am counting the days until I can be admitted to a southern University (Hopefully Wake) where I am not forced to listen to liberal propaganda-slewing teachers brainwash their students.</p>
<p>I am having the same issues you are having. It is tough to find a school with academic prestige, but also the play hard mentality that must incorporate into the social life of my college of choice. I had looked at Vandy, but unfortunately I don't have the credentials to get in. </p>
<p>Good luck in your college search, and don't let the liberal minds that peruse this site influence your refreshing beliefs.</p>
<p>^no. even if there's waiting list, i don't think it proves anything. after all, you just found this piece of info <em>on the internet</em>. interestingly, what i read on the net is consistent with what 1putt59 said as far as membership goes. it doesn't extend to family members. no woman has ever been a member, so his mom can't be a member. so where's the "we" coming from? he didn't say "my dad is a member". </p>
<p>hey, anyone can easily read a lot about harvard on the net and start telling others I went to havard...how i enjoyed which professor, what classes, and what dorms..etc. :)</p>
<p>Those who know Augusta know that it an all-male club, almost exclusively for men over 40 years old who have made tremendous contributions in politics or business. There are no children or women members. The terminology "we are members" suggests that he is making his story up. </p>
<p>If he is a member there though, I envy him. :)</p>
<p>EDIT: Sorry Sam Lee, didn't see your post</p>
<p>Boston88, what about thinking out of the box every once in awhile? Why hang around with people who are just like you all the time? I'm a pretty conservative person, went to college in the Boston area, got the liberal take on things from faculty, and then guess what? I made up my own mind! Along the way I met some pretty interesting people. You can listen to America Right and NPR on the same day, you know. I read the NY Times daily. Do I agree with alot of it? Hell no, but so what? At least I know what the other point of view is. Life's too short to keep your head in the sand, especially at your age when you're just starting out. Of course you don't want the liberal POV rammed down your throat, nobody would. But keep your ears open and you may just learn something.</p>
<p>I'm with 1putt59. Gerald is a spoof. He gives out too much information about himself that is readily identified as false.</p>
<p>You're probably right, ricegal. He's some sort of caricature.</p>
<p>DKE,</p>
<p>There is no "waiting list" at Augusta National. The 300 you mention is the number of members. See the following on membership in Augusta:</p>
<p>USATODAY.com</a> - Privacy becomes public at Augusta</p>
<p>This guy is a fraud, but he did succeed in exposing the anti-South, anti-Greek bias prevalent among many on this Board (although he was so over-the-top that it would be hard for anyone to defend some of his statements). Nevertheless, those who came on here and said that they would never send a child to one of the schools mentioned, based solely on what one fairly obvious fraud said, should ask themselves who is really the one who is narrow-minded?</p>
<p>1PUTT - not me LOL :D - my guy graduated from one of the 2 wonderful southern schools originally mentioned by the OP :) (and he 'Greeked it' as well :D - and I would not hesitate to repeat the process again - and that from a northerner. It was an amazing experience and education that he got. He sure stepped out of his box and hasn't stepped back in yet. </p>
<p>WE - and I mean we - are pretty open-minded in all of this - too bad others can't be :( - one only lives once - take a chance - it may be the best thing one does in a lifetime :)</p>
<p>1putt59,</p>
<p>Not me either. I am also fairly conservative when it comes to economic issues (probably has something to do with growing up in Hong Kong which is the freest economy in the world). It also doesn't seem to me people criticized Greeks here despite how the OP made it seem that way.</p>
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It also doesn't seem to me people criticized Greeks here despite how the OP made it seem that way.
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<p>That is correct. I criticized the concept of spending every weekend pickling the brain, not joining a fraternity. Let's hope the two concepts are not synonymous.</p>
<p>I guess what put me over the top is that here in the Southeast we've come across a ton of people like the OP, and the idea of more of it by choice isn't that appealing. Good to know that the colleges aren't all filled with people like the OP. Our neighbor's a great kid and is at W and L, happily.</p>
<p>It actually amazes me that people so young have such hard line attitudes - (ex.OP/BOSTON). I realize that we are all the result of the culture we have grown up in/know best - for the most part - but at 17-18 yo - just seems to me that not enough is known about the political PC to make such rash statements as we have seen on this thread - JMHO - must have to do with the previous generation (huh us parents LOL) that has instilled this way of thinking on some of the young folks in this generation. I guess I would rather see an open-minded dialog between generations - and alot more tolerance from some of the younger minds - to at least explore the world as a well educated human being - learning to accept the differences of the world as adults - not as maybe mis-informed teens.</p>
<p>OOO well.............</p>
<p>So true, Jeepmom. I think there are parents out there who work hard to pass along their prejudices. I'm appalled at what my kids bring home from school from their peers. First thought is, "Where are they getting THAT from? How would they come to that so early?" but the answer is clear: Mom and Dad.</p>
<p>I think my son is pretty mature for his age. He gets along with all sorts of people and when he argues a point he has data to back it up. Sometimes, he irks me, though, when he makes statements like "I would never vote for a woman for President because she wouldn't have credibility in so many countries." Then, I know I have to enlighten him as to the number of women world leaders who HAVE had credibility in many difficult countries. Sometimes, these kinds of statements just come from ignorance rather than prejudice. At 17 it is difficult to have read as many books as I have read and to have seen as much history as I have seen. I have also tried to explain to both my sons that political parties change their agendas over the years as they evolve. The Republican party was a "liberal" party when it first came into being. They were anti-slavery and anti-establishment (which at the time was big government). Teddy Roosevelt (the trustbuster) was a Republican. So, although they are registering with the Democratic Party now, they might come to find in 30 years that it doesn't mesh with their ideals anymore, and it might not even be because their ideals have changed.</p>
<p>Even if Gerald is indeed a troll, which i suspect he is, the issues he brought up need to be discussed. It is not a question of having an open mind and learning new things. Teachers in public schools are supposed to present information that will be enlightening and useful to their students, not repeatedly rip conservatives, and blame our leader for this ills in America. In my history class I recently had a discussion comparing Louis XIV to President Bush. The leader of a free world with an absolute monarch! Then I have to turn on the tv and watch thousands of black people march in Jeno protesting the fair and just arrests of 6 students who brutally beat up another student. I feel we have reached racial equality in our society today, yet I as a white male have to sit back and watch URM gain the advantage in the college admission process just because they are a different race. Affirmative action (racism in its most primitive state) is a hot topic on this site, yet I have never seen a logical argument to defend it.</p>
<p>Boston88 - I have many many issues with what you are trying to say.</p>
<p>What age level was this history class - could it have been refering to the growth of governmental powers occuring, rather than a 1to1 comparison? A somewhat legitimate argument I might say. 1-1, it is ludicrous. But it is also a teacher's job to make students THINK. Perhaps by saying the seemingly absurd(many Physics teachers use the example of 'the world is flat', and ask for proof that it is not) it is challenging you to think of things in a different way. But I wasn't in the class, so I don't know.</p>
<p>The Jena 6 was in response to the white kids getting no punishment, and the black kids getting punished, all while the acts were equally deplorable(at best).</p>
<p>And seeking a representative image of society is what is demanded(the FREE MARKET) of colleges. Colleges with higher % minorities recieve more applications. These 'advantages' in college admissions are mostly in order to meet the demands of applicants.</p>
<p>And AA is flaw IMO, and should be tied to income rather than race, but due to the overwhelming poverty of many minorities it came as it is. And the white citizens of Appalachia are just as AA helped as blacks, it's just they aren't on TV as much.</p>
<p>And lastly - the problems that Gerald 'brings up' that are most concerning are a rejection of minorities and desire for binge drinking. That isn't PC or anything like that, that is racism and stupidity. Perhaps this pinning of rejection on 'PCness' rather than on the legitimate problems raised is the actual problem at play.</p>