Dean - I am fine having a cross country team. I just don't see why there should be any preferential admissions for cross country runners. Basketball and football at least contribute to the environment on campus and school spirit -- Duke is a better place because of these teams. And of course I believe there should be equal numbers of male and female athletes. But no one can even watch a cross country meet, let alone a sailing regatta.
Cross country! Now I'm hurt. (As an undergrad, I ran for Duke.)
But seriously, what a great point! Even if you grant that country club sports are not an intentional strategy to boost admissions, this type of systematic problem is real and makes something like affirmative action a necessary counterbalance.
Dean - I am fine having a cross country team. I just don't see why there should be any preferential admissions for cross country runners. Basketball and football at least contribute to the environment on campus and school spirit -- Duke is a better place because of these teams. And of course I believe there should be equal numbers of male and female athletes. But no one can even watch a cross country meet, let alone a sailing regatta.
Cross country! Now I'm hurt. (As an undergrad, I ran for Duke.)
But seriously, what a great point! Even if you grant that country club sports are not an intentional strategy to boost admissions, this type of systematic problem is real and makes something like affirmative action a necessary counterbalance.