[M T]

I have a slightly different perspective than most of you.  I didn\'t go to Stanford (it would have been no higher than 3rd on my list) 40+ years ago.  I work nearby as a tech professional who moved here 30 years ago to a nearby affluent community.  My grad school was one of the big sports-heavy schools.

I would be quite bothered if Stanford were coddling its athletes.  That would tarnish its image for me.  I expect Stanford to accept the highest quality students and give them a high quality education.  I believe that intelligent, high achievers can be among the best athletes. Also, I believe that athletics is a good outlet and great life training for people that have always been outstanding academically.

Schools publish the graduation rates of their athletes and general student population. Those numbers can be misleading if athletes are coddled.  For schools like Stanford, I\'d suggest publishing the rates of entry into a graduate/medical/law/etc. school.  To me, that would help show whether the athletes are representative of the student body in an elite school.  (I understand that continuing in school is not the goal of a Stanford education, but this would be one measure where the judgment is made by an external entity.)

I do agree that the fact that relatively few local children go to Stanford does affect the affinity of the community to the school.  I also would point out that the distance from the major local media impacts the media coverage and support.  Newspapers from SF and SJ do not treat Stanford as one of their own.  The TV stations seem even more remote.

What could Stanford do to improve the affinity of the regional community?  They\'ve already got the respect, but they need more of the community having personal contact with the University.  How can that be done?  Stanford already has lots of opportunities for the community to seek out the University (talks, concerts, etc.)  But for personal contact, I\'d actually suggest more "easy" courses based on community involvement. (These may already be there.)  For athletes, coaching or running neighborhood clinics would benefit the student, the community, and the school.  For those going into medicine, helping at nursing homes and such.  For those interested in education or child psychology, helping at K-12 schools or other youth services. For the techies, helping with things like science clubs, robot competitions, etc.

When my kids grew up, I don\'t think they ever had personal contact with Stanford students.  I\'m not sure I\'ve had much contact other than in my profession.

[M T]

I have a slightly different perspective than most of you.  I didn\'t go to Stanford (it would have been no higher than 3rd on my list) 40+ years ago.  I work nearby as a tech professional who moved here 30 years ago to a nearby affluent community.  My grad school was one of the big sports-heavy schools.

I would be quite bothered if Stanford were coddling its athletes.  That would tarnish its image for me.  I expect Stanford to accept the highest quality students and give them a high quality education.  I believe that intelligent, high achievers can be among the best athletes. Also, I believe that athletics is a good outlet and great life training for people that have always been outstanding academically.

Schools publish the graduation rates of their athletes and general student population. Those numbers can be misleading if athletes are coddled.  For schools like Stanford, I\'d suggest publishing the rates of entry into a graduate/medical/law/etc. school.  To me, that would help show whether the athletes are representative of the student body in an elite school.  (I understand that continuing in school is not the goal of a Stanford education, but this would be one measure where the judgment is made by an external entity.)

I do agree that the fact that relatively few local children go to Stanford does affect the affinity of the community to the school.  I also would point out that the distance from the major local media impacts the media coverage and support.  Newspapers from SF and SJ do not treat Stanford as one of their own.  The TV stations seem even more remote.

What could Stanford do to improve the affinity of the regional community?  They\'ve already got the respect, but they need more of the community having personal contact with the University.  How can that be done?  Stanford already has lots of opportunities for the community to seek out the University (talks, concerts, etc.)  But for personal contact, I\'d actually suggest more "easy" courses based on community involvement. (These may already be there.)  For athletes, coaching or running neighborhood clinics would benefit the student, the community, and the school.  For those going into medicine, helping at nursing homes and such.  For those interested in education or child psychology, helping at K-12 schools or other youth services. For the techies, helping with things like science clubs, robot competitions, etc.

When my kids grew up, I don\'t think they ever had personal contact with Stanford students.  I\'m not sure I\'ve had much contact other than in my profession.