That's just simply not true. It's just the traditional old school W&M response to these type problems.
Actually, that is where the fight is at UR. The Admissions Office
hasn't been giving in to the coaches (the Grad transfer that ended up -
playing well- at Xavier this season, for example, after being denied at UR).
Their big donors apparently want to work towards a system that is closer to that of some of the eastern elite academic schools (Vandy, UVA, Wake, Northwestern, etc) that seem to be able to get in solid student-athletes and still remain elite. (Something W&M should
also keep in mind.) Duke and UVA's academic ranking have
not gone down since they've gotten better in b-ball and football (well, UVA's a bad example there (FB), but...
... the idea is the same).
In today's world, it has been proven that, with a little creative thinking, you can have high academics and competitive sports. Richmond's administration will have to rethink it's hard line (as should W&M) on numbers, but there is a
huge difference between "
lowering the school's standards" and changing the question to "
can this person handle the job of being a student and an athlete at this school", SAT numbers be damned.
I really thought people on this board were more of the "let's find a way" type, but I, apparently, could be wrong. There's an awful lot of "never change W&M" sentiment on here.
In my opinion, the old way of saying you can't do both, it's impossible at an elite school, is just a handy excuse for those that probably want a Washington & Lee (D-III) type experience at W&M. It's been proven, repeatedly, that it can work, with some effort.
I'm in the "let's explore change" group. Hopefully, the recent
For the Bold initiative will open up those same type discussions at W&M, that this power play did at Richmond. If not, maybe we need to go get us a couple of those Donors.