I am writing in response to University Trustee Michael Wilcox’s comment that the University is not an “Ivy League” school, a defense which he regards as justification for the new scholarship allotments [“Univ. Board of Trustees passes 5 resolutions,” Oct. 1]. I think we would all agree BGSU is definitely not an Ivy League school. But does that give us the jurisdiction to stop striving for academic excellence?

With these new scholarship changes, one would think so. Of course the University is not an Ivy League school, but it is precisely this fact that makes it important that our upper level scholarships are competitive to more academically minded students. We do not necessarily provide the same academic emphasis and challenge of an Ivy League school… so what is the motivation for students who might be Ivy League caliber to attend the University?

With the new scholarship allocation, the University is communicating a clear message – we value our enrollment numbers and tuition money more than our academic success.

This value preference is completely acceptable, but in looking at the BGSU Vision Statement, it says the University strives to be the “premier Learning Community in Ohio and one of the best in the Nation.” It seems to me in this situation these two values are contradictory.

How are we to become the “premier Learning Community in Ohio” when we are blatantly downplaying the importance of academic success in our scholarship allocation?

University administrators need to make up their minds and consider what they are gaining and what they are potentially sacrificing with this change. Let’s at least make our words match our actions. Perhaps our Vision Statement should really say we “strive nobly to increase enrollment to the maximum capacity possible.” At least then we’d be telling the truth.

– Sarah Stephenson Senior, English Education