So here’s an analogy so I don’t have to write the whole thing again:

Say you are having a conversation with a friend from South Africa. You make a comment about how Post Apartheid South Africa remains a nation of racial segregation, repression and subjugation because it is now a “democracy” with a Bill of Rights and the likes. Well, your South African friend politely disagrees and goes on to tell you not only that you are completely off base, but why you are wrong in very specific details of the continued racism, sexism and general discrimination that remains there. Would you continue to think the same way because of what you had read in a book or heard from a friend, or would you now agree with the person who lived there and experienced all of this first hand?

I’m guessing you would change your mind, and I suggest you do the same here.

Thanks.

I guess I want to start off by wondering what prompted this response to Dean Flagel’s post on his recent conference? It doesn’t seem to be at all related to that topic, just someone venting about their perceived weaknesses of their NEIGHBORING university.

Do you currently attend George Mason University? Do you have a son or daughter that currently attends George Mason University? What/who would give you the ideas that you wrote about in your post? Excuse me if I’m a bit confused. I assume you were just trying to fit in to the political season – talk about something you really know nothing about.

“You fail to address the day to day issues/lifestyles/developmental stages of the undergraduate.”
I was one of 912 students to graduate my high school in suburban Philadelphia in 2002. I would also say that mainly due to Mason’s incredible diversity (most importantly the student diversity), I found myself much more ready for professional life than my fellow 911 high school classmates (about 95% of whom also went to a 4 year institution of higher learning).

“Your campus is dead on weekends (compare on campus activity participation to the general on campus population).”
I lived on campus for 4 years, and I strongly disagree with this statement. If I was talking to someone from South Africa and telling them that Post-Apartheid the racism, sexism and general discrimination is all but gone even though I had never set foot on the continent and just read about it, only to have my South African friend tell me that I was incorrect as he has been living there – well, I would just have to admit I was wrong and move on, as I suggest you do in this instance.

“Your admissions process for the “local kids” is cleary prejudicial.”
I can’t speak to this because I do not work in Admissions, but why even include this if you are so disinterested and unsatisfied with Mason?

“Your general education classes are crowded and taught by disinterested, unavailable teachers (not even faculty). These classes are large and impersonal. The students are often left on their own socially and intellectually.”
My general education courses were taught by some of the greatest minds I have ever had the pleasure of interacting with. My professors were seemingly always available and basically itching to interact with students outside of class. I cannot even begin to go into detail about how wrong this statement is.

That’s it for me, sorry if I rambled there for a bit.

The reality is that Mason has received wide recognition for our transition programs (we were one of the primary subjects of a book on colleges that aid student success), and have an incredible student life. I’ll provide detail below for the past weekend for those who feel a need to read through the details.

You should also, in fairness, point out that we have some of the smallest class sizes in the state, ESPECIALLY at the freshmen level. There is no doubt there are small privates with very tiny class sizes, but in general Mason gets very high marks for incredible faculty that not only teach, but are well connected to the DC region.

Of course, many students will not want to stay local, and I’m sure if your son or daughter is looking for that campus in the woods experience, he or she will be very happy with it. You did, however, mention transfer rates – and its very true that a large number of students from the region suddenly realize how wonderful it was to be in the DC area and beg us for the chance to come back.

My favorite part of your rant, however, is where you claim we’re “prejudicial”. It amazes me how I can hear most stridently from the same parents telling me that their kids would never want to come to Mason, even while accusing me of being biased against them. If you didn’t want to be here, I’d think you wouldn’t be so concerned. I will admit to a bias against poeple who don’t want to be at Mason – since I assume they are either looking for something else, or possibly are, to put it delicately, not the sharpest tack in the box.

I agree you have a wide disconnect between your facts and reality. Best wishes to your child wherever he or she does end up going. I readily admit that the massive interest in Mason from around the globe makes it less likely he or she will get a chance to join us. Perhaps, however, we can consider a transfer to Mason if he or she does well enough at some less competitive institution. Be seeing you.

PS – (for those who want to slug through it): This past weekend Thursday had the conclusion of the massive Fall for the Book regional festival featuring Novelist Sue Miller, and the Incredible Hulk was playing at the movie theater, Musician Johnny Walked offered a free concert friday while students watched Wanted at the theater, and that show continued Saturday and Sunday (there’s a Sneak Peak of Body of Lies on Wednesday) while a massive Karoke night was going on Saturday at the Damon’s on campus, trying to compete with the campus wide Festival of the Arts with theater, music, featuring Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Sunday’s Wind Symphony concert I doubt many students took in Disney on Ice at the Patriot Center this weekend. Men’s and women’s NCAA Division I soccer teams played on campus this weekend, as did our women’s volleyball team. Both the sororty and the fraternity I advise were among the dozens of student groups having parties this weekend, Hispanic Heritage Month is underway, and the list goes on and on.

Also, actually ALL academic departments are maintained outside admissions offices. Not sure what the poster meant, but hopefully that makes it clear.

George Mason University has not defined who they are in the minds of consumers of the undergraduate experience. Their is a wide disconnect going on at Mason in terms of “facts” and reality. It seems like a fine “starter” school those that could not make the school of their choice. There are some that feel that the admissions process is sloppy, confusing, and personal. It would be interesting to hear you discuss transfer rates instead of defending the obvious. Another observation would be to make it clear that the departments (schools) that are thriving withing the University are maintained exclusive of the admissions department.