Respect Talents

To the Editors of The Crimson:

In 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, and we require public correction and clarification.

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 to Harvard College. Implying anything to the contrary is not only an insult to Han's fellow students, but also to the Athletic and Admissions Departments alike.

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.

Similarly, participation in athletics at Harvard is not solely the "privilege" of recruited athletes. Harvard sponsors 40 intercollegiate teams for both men and women--more than virtually any other school--and while increasing financial pressures have led many colleges to drop their sub-varsity programs, Harvard has maintained the inclusive nature of its many-leveled sports programs. More than 20 percent of the student body (1500 students) participates in intercollegiate athletics at Harvard. Many of those 1500 are "walk-ons," accepted for their talents in non-athletic realms, but no less an integral part of the team than their recruited teammates. In addition, the extensive intramural program and outstanding sports facilities here provide ample opportunity for all students to participate in pursuit of the Greco-Roman ideal. One might justifiably state that Harvard takes more steps than any other institution in the country to see that this ideal may be achieved.

The 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 are consistently within one standard deviation of the college-wide mean for academics.

Although the statistics prove otherwise, many Harvard students still refuse to believe that athletes are as academically able as their non-athletic peers. As members of varsity teams and as representatives to Atheletic Director Reardon's Undergraduate Advisory Committee on Athletics, we repeatedly hear of instances in which Harvard's academic standards are not compromised for any applicant's athletic skills. The Admissions Committee strives for diversity in excellence in the candidates it selects, regardless of whether it is manifested on the cello, the stage or the diving platform. And the implication that athletics is somehow less intellectual an activity than music or art is somewhat misleading. The required academic mastery of Coach Restic's "multiflex offense" to perform well on the football field or the required knowledge of the physics of the hammer throw is no less intellectual than the talents of gifted singers or pianists.

We are all fortunate enough to be able to witness the wealth of diversity of our fellow classmates. The Harvard experience is enhanced by the opportunity to witness excellence in all areas, not only in the classroom but also on the playing fields, in the art studio and on stage. What is unfortunate is that not all students realize that applicants to Harvard College must meet the same academic standards. Once here, their contributions to the Harvard community, regardless of the outlet of their talent, should be respected. We strive to be a tolerant, open-minded community. Misconceptions about the abilities of our peers, such as those expressed last week, lead only to prejudice and division within our uniquely diverse community. F.J. Gould '89   Chris Sullivan '89