Two weeks ago, a Daily article about Harvard grade inflation caused a stir with our Red Line peers. Harvard students sent angry letters, and the Crimson, Harvard's student newspaper, printed two articles about the controversy, one of which reported vengeful Harvard e-mails bouncing across the Yard. A Tufts student quoted in the Daily article even received an angry phone call from a Harvard colleague.
Their reaction was surprisingly defensive, especially for students attending America's premier university. With its rich history, prominent alumni, and world-famous graduate programs, one would think Harvard's student body would have a slightly thicker skin and not be so sensitive to criticism, which always finds its way to the top.
Perhaps their defensiveness was a tacit recognition of grade inflation that gave honors to 91 percent of Harvard's most recent graduating class compared to 50 percent at Tufts and even smaller numbers at other top schools. Although its student body is obviously talented, Harvard honors are meaningless unless they represent achievement relative to ones classmates.
Another explanation for the virulence of their response was Dean Charles Inouye's remarks to the Daily, in which he questioned the work ethic of Harvard students. His comments, unprofessional and insulting, deserved the rebuke they received.
The Tufts students who gloated over reports of Harvard's grade inflation cannot help but sound jealous. Albeit immature, the retort of Harvard students to the Daily article was accurate: many Tufts students either applied to Harvard, or would have applied if their high school records rendered admission a reasonable prospect. The other side of Harvard's equally vituperative rejoinder - that only Tufts students believe there is a rivalry between the Red Line neighbors - is also undeniably true. By initiating in petty bickering over the Daily article, Harvard students are suggesting there is some validity in a comparison between the two schools. But Harvard's endowment is $13 billion, while Tufts' is only $500 million. In many ways, Harvard is in a league of its own, and the stereotypical Tufts inferiority complex is merely a result of unfortunate geography. Most schools would be honored to be considered a second choice for Harvard students, but no school could emerge with its pride untarnished while living in Harvard's intimidating shadow.
Inouye's critical remarks and Tufts students celebratory banter were petty and unneighborly. Worse, however, was the barrage of counter-attacks directed at this University from Harvard students whose pride in their institution should withstand greater assaults.
