Editor’s note: PAW invited readers to share their thoughts on the national college-admissions scandal.
I was a physics graduate student in 1957, the year Robert Goheen ’40 *48 became Princeton’s new president, and went to the Chapel the morning that his new presidency was being celebrated. I went to hear organist Carl Weinreich, who was playing for the ceremony, but also I was interested in hearing what the new president would say.
I no longer remember which organ pieces Weinreich played, but I do remember (or think I do) a part of what Goheen said. He admitted that Princeton gives extra consideration to the children of its alumni in the admissions process because the extra giving that results makes it possible to admit more of the students who require additional financial support if they are to come. He did not say anything about the children of those who donate buildings, and I’m glad that he didn’t.
Though today’s admission scams strike me as immoral and disgusting, what I believe I heard that Sunday morning was at least an imperfect answer to one of today’s ever-growing, difficult, and important problems.