In choosing Brown, students are picking a school that promises world class faculty, numerous libraries, a gifted student body and myriad educational and vocational resources, on top of a well-respected name. Attending such an institution is a privilege, and many Brown students are well aware of it. In that regard, Anish Mitra '10 was right to remark in his column ("A little elitism goes a long way," Feb. 27) that "choosing Brown means choosing to be elite, in some way or another."
But Mitra's point depends on what is meant by the term "elite." On one definition, elitism is the knowledge and understanding that one belongs to an elite, and I would bet that many Brown students are guilty of elitism by that standard. We know that we attend an Ivy League school and strive to take advantage of its resources as best we can.
But elitism has another definition - the belief that a select group of society has the most important views and should hold the most power - that doesn't apply as well to undergraduates here, and that leads many to label elitism and elitist groups as "non-Brown."
Brown should not strive to preserve its "aristocratic, elitist roots." By fostering an increasingly diverse, progressive environment the University can strengthen its image and build its endowment.
Mitra's fears about the dilution of the student body are reminiscent of a broader historical trend advocating the exclusion of new groups from academia. The reluctance to admit women into universities in the 19th century comes to mind. The recently commemorated walkout of 1968 - motivated by concerns about minority representation on campus - was a reaction to Brown's unsavory elitist past.
Brown's peers have traditions of elitism that are, in many cases, not worth emulating. In the early 1920s, Harvard implemented selective admissions practices for the express purpose of decreasing the number of Jews admitted. Administrators viewed the growing population of Jewish students as damaging the university's image. At Princeton, applicants were rated on personal aspects such as appearance in order to ensure better identification of "undesirables."
In light of Brown's fragile position in the rankings, it makes sense to worry about the University's image. But there is more to be gained from looking forward for new ideas in dealing with setbacks.
The suggestion that the University reduce the total number of admitted students in order to increase the value of a Brown acceptance is analogous to luxury brands increasing prices to ensure that undesirable customers won't be able to afford the brand. An Ivy League education should only be considered a luxury in a meritocratic, rather than aristocratic, sense.
Some might also wonder whether Brown should try to court more "wealthy and powerful applicants." Brown is one of a privileged few schools that can afford to meet students' full demonstrated financial aid need. While other colleges accept a larger cohort of wealthy students when the economy falters, Brown does not need to compromise its commitment to supporting students from all backgrounds by aggressively targeting the most advantaged applicants.
Morton Schapiro, president of Williams College, reported in an interview with the Boston Globe that now is a good time to be a "smart, rich kid. And at some schools, you don't need to be as smart as you did before." If the caliber of an institution is measured by the academic merits of its undergraduates as opposed to their wealth, this is a disturbing trend, and one that Brown should actively avoid.
Many students chose Brown over other schools in part due to its atmosphere of acceptance and equality of opportunity. It is not ignorance, but awareness of Brown's "historically elite nature" that drives students away from selective organizations on campus. Being a privileged member of society does not entail that one must actively exclude others in order to maintain that privilege.
As for "organized elites" such as the secret societies and eating clubs prevalent elsewhere, there may simply no longer be any need for such organizations on campus. Even attending class or a discussion section allows students to meet a variety of their peers including, if they are so inclined, the wealthy and powerful.
Brown University is indeed an elite institution, but it does not have to cultivate an elitist image. Doing so to draw in wealthy and powerful students ignores the other types of students who contribute to the University's status.
Ivy Chang '10 is a human biology
concentrator from Los Angeles,
California. She can be reached at
ivy_chang@brown.edu.
