Partly Cloudy, 64°
Point: Grade Inflation Threatens Brown's Academic Integrity
By Greg Berman
It may come as a surprise to some, but Brown students are currently in a terrible crisis. I know it may not be pretty, but it's time we face the dire reality of our situation. Did you know that over 53% of grades received at Brown are A's? That means of only 47% of the grades aren't A's. How could it have come to this? An A is meant to represent excellence, not an ability to reach the 53rd percentile.
I understand that Brown is a highly selective university, one with an exceptionally talented student body, but that should hardly warrant such excess. Grades are supposed to be a comparative measure of performance. To claim that so many A's are well-deserved is absurd. The fact of the matter is that even if two papers seem nearly identical in quality one MUST be fractionally worse than the other and therefore merit a B. How can I be expected to enjoy my A if I know a bunch of other people get it too?
The root of the problem is the professors. In the recent study, 109 out of 181 faculty members felt "pressure to inflate grades." It seems our professors have gotten soft, dishing out A's like the proverbial lollipop. I believe I speak for all my fellow students when I say: Bring it on. I would rather slave away endlessly for an A than live in a world where my prospects of receiving one are a hopeful 53%.
Counterpoint: Dude, Seriously?!
By Evan Tullis
Whoa whoa! Wait! Sshhhhhh! What are doing? Dude! What is going on? Slow down for a minute, what did you just say? Who are you? Seriously dude, seriously? Totally not cool.
I can't believe I am hearing this. Is this some sort of inside-joke? Is it April Fools' Day? I don't understand how any actual student could have written this. You must be some sort of masochist or something. What is the matter with other people getting A's? Are you getting A+'s or something? Is that upsetting to you? I would be delighted to trade GPA's if that would make you happier.
But honestly, who do you think you are? Some big-shot investigative reporter? I mean you actually went and got statistics to prove your point as if the big headline wasn't enough. C'mon man! You're going out of your way to make us all look bad. I bet you always ask questions at the end of class too even though everyone just wants to leave. Jesus this is a great way to start off my day.
Furthermore, what are you doing writing an article like this in the first place. What spurred you to go research this stuff? Was your GPA too high? Parents too proud? Are you going to write a follow-up about the looming threat of too many Passes?! I bet you don't even understand why I am upset, ugh. God! I'm sure at least like 10 professors saw this. Ugh, there goes Macroeconomics. Thanks a lot.
