As WashU continues to grapple with improving national name recognition and school identity, we caution the university against emulating Ivy Plus institutions and prioritizing rankings over becoming an institution that advances social progress.

When we don’t consume fiction for fun, we forget how to create meaningful narratives in our lives, and narratives teach us how to build connections and community. Today, we are missing stories.

The idea that WashU specifically needs D-I sports to build a stronger WashU identity is misguided — D-I sports won’t change anything unless there is a serious culture change at this school when it comes to supporting our teams. The absence of school spirit, especially surrounding our women’s sports, more than our Division III status, explains why some say WashU lacks identity.

I pose this question to the University: if applicants who don’t need to consider price in their college decision have a better chance of being accepted, do we truly have need-blind admissions?