Word: hans
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...reading Suk Han's opinion piece of December 1, "Whither Harvard Athletics," we were once again saddened to see that within this college's educated and enlightened student body, stereotyping is alive and well. We do not fault Han for airing her opinions; it appears that Han's feelings are not unique to her, and we applaud her willingness to include them in this recurring discussion. We do believe, however, that her opinions and comments on the nature of athletics at Harvard are based on several misconceptions regarding the policies of Harvard's Departments of Athletics and Admissions...
...When Han states that "athletes without scholarly abilities add nothing to Harvard's intellectual community," she implies that academic criteria are waived for exceptional athletes. First and foremost, Harvard is an academic institution, and academic achievement is the primary criterion for admission. What all Harvard students share is a certain standard of academic achievement. What creates Harvard's amazing diversity is its unification of students talented in areas outside the classroom, beyond the academic excellence of each. However, talent in only one area is not enough to justify admission. No applicant, athlete or not, who lacks scholarly ability is admitted...
...Han states that "Harvard does admit to giving preference in admissions to athletes." This statement is true only to the extent that all applicants with a distinguishable talent receive preference in admissions. Whether that talent is in athletics, acting, public service or any other extra-curricular area is immaterial. The dedication and commitment inherent in any of these time-consuming endeavors is what receives preference in admissions. Where that dedication is directed, whether on the playing field or in the newsroom, is less pertinent than the dedication itself...
...most misconceived and disheartening of Han's suggestions, though, is that there exists at Harvard the notion that "intellectual prowess" and "athletic talent" are mutually exclusive. She, as an intercollegiate athlete herself, should know that there is not an inverse correlation between athletic talent and academic ability. President Bok's recent survey demonstrated that students involved in time-consuming activities such as athletics tend to do better academically than their classmates who are less involved. In addition, statistics show that board scores of entering athletes are on a par with those of their classmates and that, once at Harvard, athletes...
...athletes, out of line and out of synch, as they prepare to march in, an Englishman sporting his I SPEAK ENGLISH button (ah, that British irony!), the Jamaicans holding their heads high while across the world their island was being laid waste by Hurricane Gilbert. They continue at the Han River festival, where an American pulls off a major upset in an ineffable local version of bingo, in an area in which ruddy-faced stallkeepers wave customers toward pungent wild-boar barbecues, and the only signs in English say DRAFT BEER. And they reach their climax at the buffet breakfast...