You’re a third generation Fairfield Stag, a contributing member to the campus community and a faithful alum… and your child has just been denied admission to your alma mater despite decades of support and generosity. How could this have happened?
President Bush spoke out in August against the “legacy” policy favoring the college admission of students with ties to alumni at Yale University.
“I think colleges ought to use merit in order for people to get in,” Bush said.
President Bush was a legacy himself. He is third in his family to attend Yale and his daughter Barbara is now continuing the family tradition.
Though it is difficult to argue against admission based upon merit, disappointed Americans are wondering how schools that pride themselves on tradition can flatly deny candidates whose families have been loyal to a school for years.
However, the Fairfield admissions office does not have a problem with the idea of favoring legacies, according to Karen Pellegrino, director of undergraduate admission.
“We value our relationship with alumni from Fairfield University, and accordingly review the applications of students with alumni ties (parents, grandparents, siblings) with great care,” Pellegrino said. “We admit students with alumni ties to the university at a slightly higher rate than the overall applicant pool.”
“Admission to college is never based entirely on merit,” said Rudy Pino ’05, a Fairfield legacy. “There are all kinds of ‘edges’ people have when applying to college. There are in-state, out-of-state, athletics; all kinds of things. If they’re going to base admissions completely on SAT scores and GPAs then that’s fine, but as long as all those other factors give an edge to others, I don’t see why they should do away with an edge to legacies that carry on tradition.”
According to the Washington Post, the statement against the policy by President Bush was the first time he has addressed the issue.
The remarks were met with a favorable response from the outspoken Rev. Jesse Jackson who told CNN that it’s a good step “if it’s a policy, not just a speech.” Some Fairfield students agree the policy of favoring legacies is unfair.
“I think there are more fair ways to network than through your family,” said Carly Samaha ’05. “I know nepotism happens, but I’m just not so sure it belongs in a college admissions office.”
Yet some students feel that the legacy policy is crucial to Fairfield.
“I didn’t know about Fairfield until my sister went here,” says Frank Andrea ’07. “I came to visit her here and loved it.”
Jack Callahan ’05, whose brother was a member of the Fairfield class of 200 added, “Fairfield is always talking about a sense of community.
“A key part of community for me is emphasizing family and tradition and that includes in the admissions office.”
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