03-11-2011, 04:25 PM
WBBfanMT,
I wasn\'t asking specifically about athletes. The List was sort of the news hook to ask about something I\'ve observed overall.
Many people mention Stanford\'s elite status, but in many ways Princeton, as an Ivy and one of the oldest colleges in the U.S., has even more prestige, and is roughly as difficult to gain admission, so that does not appear to be the reason that locals dislike Stanford. People in Princeton and nearby towns seem to think that the ZIP Code and proximity imbues on them with some cachet.
Proximity to media seems not to be an issue. TAMU is the furthest from a major media market, but has the best relationship with locals, but I attribute the good relationship it has with Bryan/College Station to the fact that almost the entire economy is in some way tied to the university. Newspapers in faraway "South Jersey," an hour or so from New Brunswick basically ignore Rutgers because they believe is outside their coverage area in "Central Jersey," or "South Jersey," depending on whom you ask.
Stanford is definitely involved in the community. Talks are definitely open to the community. Perhaps, they need to be published more. Many athletes are involved with literacy projects in East Palo Alto. I was recently the beneficiary of student volunteerism when I was able to secure medications through a clinic offered on weekends. You make a good point when referring to your own children. Perhaps the school needs to do more to interact with middle class people.
So far, Lefty\'s explanation seems the most satisfying, but it certainly does not explain why the younger generation, which didn\'t come from afar would resent Stanford.
I wasn\'t asking specifically about athletes. The List was sort of the news hook to ask about something I\'ve observed overall.
Many people mention Stanford\'s elite status, but in many ways Princeton, as an Ivy and one of the oldest colleges in the U.S., has even more prestige, and is roughly as difficult to gain admission, so that does not appear to be the reason that locals dislike Stanford. People in Princeton and nearby towns seem to think that the ZIP Code and proximity imbues on them with some cachet.
Proximity to media seems not to be an issue. TAMU is the furthest from a major media market, but has the best relationship with locals, but I attribute the good relationship it has with Bryan/College Station to the fact that almost the entire economy is in some way tied to the university. Newspapers in faraway "South Jersey," an hour or so from New Brunswick basically ignore Rutgers because they believe is outside their coverage area in "Central Jersey," or "South Jersey," depending on whom you ask.
Stanford is definitely involved in the community. Talks are definitely open to the community. Perhaps, they need to be published more. Many athletes are involved with literacy projects in East Palo Alto. I was recently the beneficiary of student volunteerism when I was able to secure medications through a clinic offered on weekends. You make a good point when referring to your own children. Perhaps the school needs to do more to interact with middle class people.
So far, Lefty\'s explanation seems the most satisfying, but it certainly does not explain why the younger generation, which didn\'t come from afar would resent Stanford.