From Drexel to UPenn: Ivy always destroys the walls it grows on
Bret Haymaker
Issue date: 4/21/06 Section: Ed-Op
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Whenever describing Drexel to a friend or discussing it with a complete stranger, no matter what is said about our University, the one guaranteed response is about our location next to the University of Pennsylvania.
The stranger, be they friend or foe, parent or prospective student, will surely say at some point during the conversation, "Drexel … That's the one that's really close to Penn, right? Penn has a great campus!"
This perpetual geographical association with Penn is unavoidable, but over the years I have developed some well-versed rebuttals to Penn's supposed greatness and the Drexel students that get sucked into comparing themselves and their institution to this Ivy League behemoth.
"Yes, you're right," I reply. "Penn is beautiful. It sports a large, green, historic campus with aesthetic qualities. And yes, it has a massive array of rich, beautiful people to fill up the space. And yes, Drexel is different because it does not share these qualities."
But, you see, this is where I differ from the people that denounce their own institution because of the illusion of a better one right next door. I do not see the type of beauty at Drexel that I see at Penn. Our campus is known to be unsightly, at least according to The Princeton Review. But does that mean Drexel is not beautiful? It also says that we rank high in long lines and red tape, and we do. But who is The Princeton Review, anyway? Since when has anything involving Princeton ever represented me? Why should this arbitrary opinion of my University have any bearing on my own opinion? It should not take precedence over my experience with Drexel, which has been great. I go to schools like Penn and I feel awkward. I go to places like Temple and become depressed. Drexel is the perfect middle ground.
There is red tape. There are long lines. Our campus may be unsightly. These things are annoying. In the same token, however, these things are reflective of the real world. That is why I am at college, isn't it? To prepare for the real world?
The stranger, be they friend or foe, parent or prospective student, will surely say at some point during the conversation, "Drexel … That's the one that's really close to Penn, right? Penn has a great campus!"
This perpetual geographical association with Penn is unavoidable, but over the years I have developed some well-versed rebuttals to Penn's supposed greatness and the Drexel students that get sucked into comparing themselves and their institution to this Ivy League behemoth.
"Yes, you're right," I reply. "Penn is beautiful. It sports a large, green, historic campus with aesthetic qualities. And yes, it has a massive array of rich, beautiful people to fill up the space. And yes, Drexel is different because it does not share these qualities."
But, you see, this is where I differ from the people that denounce their own institution because of the illusion of a better one right next door. I do not see the type of beauty at Drexel that I see at Penn. Our campus is known to be unsightly, at least according to The Princeton Review. But does that mean Drexel is not beautiful? It also says that we rank high in long lines and red tape, and we do. But who is The Princeton Review, anyway? Since when has anything involving Princeton ever represented me? Why should this arbitrary opinion of my University have any bearing on my own opinion? It should not take precedence over my experience with Drexel, which has been great. I go to schools like Penn and I feel awkward. I go to places like Temple and become depressed. Drexel is the perfect middle ground.
There is red tape. There are long lines. Our campus may be unsightly. These things are annoying. In the same token, however, these things are reflective of the real world. That is why I am at college, isn't it? To prepare for the real world?
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Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 21
Anonymous
posted 4/21/06 @ 4:10 PM EST
What a beautiful way to put it! I'm so proud of being a Drexel student. I'm glad someone has had the courage to stand up for the truth.
Anonymous
posted 4/22/06 @ 1:13 AM EST
Bret,
I'm a Penn student who read your article after hearing several friends talking about it. I can see where you're coming from in writing it, but I'm offended at the sweeping generalizations you make about my school. (Continued…)
Anonymous
posted 4/22/06 @ 2:44 PM EST
penn has beautiful people... man, you need to visit our campus more
Anonymous
posted 4/22/06 @ 2:55 PM EST
Its funny that you think a unique and interesting feature of drexel is that its "composed of real people, with flaws."
Instead of trying to rationalize your way out of your own immature insecurity about studying at Drexel, why don't you just get over it. (Continued…)
Anonymous
posted 4/22/06 @ 3:09 PM EST
I am a Penn student and damn proud of it, but for you to say that the people here are beautiful is an absolute fabrication and I suspect you know it.
Anonymous
posted 4/22/06 @ 3:30 PM EST
come on, what's the point. you don't see us penn students writing unresearched, unsupported, emotion-driven editorials about penn being so much better than drexel. (Continued…)
Anonymous
posted 4/22/06 @ 5:17 PM EST
I'm a "privileged" Penn kid, who (although decidedly non-Caucasian) drinks Chimay, wears Lacoste and goes to London for spring break. I am the obnoxious person that Drexel (and Philly at large) love to hate. (Continued…)
Anonymous
posted 4/22/06 @ 6:57 PM EST
In one of your responses you proclaimed, "I wrote this to inspire Drexel students to look at the good things."
While I would bet there are ample "good things" about Drexel that deserve mention and notice, I struggle to find a single "good thing" about Drexel in your article. (Continued…)
Anonymous
posted 4/22/06 @ 8:32 PM EST
I can see your point here - that Drexel kids are beating themselves up over the Penn comparison - but really, these schools are apples and oranges. What you learn at Drexel at Penn are different. (Continued…)
Anonymous
posted 4/24/06 @ 12:35 AM EST
Sir,
If you believe that West Philadelphia is a "desolate wasteland," then I doubt very much that you have ever left your dorm room.
Get out of Drexel. (Continued…)
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