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Sir: Your article "The Search for Something Else" [April 26] is a remarkably concise and exact expression of what has become the policy of the nation's leading colleges toward its admissions candidates. The extent to which this policy has manifested itself these past two years is noteworthy. We cannot help feeling sorry for the high-school senior who has maintained a straight A average for four years and has scored consistently in the mid-to-upper 700s on the College Board exams—and who is rejected at the school of his choice simply because he is not "different." Nevertheless, the striving of this nation's colleges for diversity and individuality among its student body is indeed commendable. Even here at Yale, where undergraduate education is perhaps the best in the country, I often find myself thinking that I learn more from one of the communal nightly "bull sessions" than I do from a week of classes. For a rewarding college experience in general, students who can offer something else are sine qua non.
STEPHEN A. CUSHNER, '71 Yale University New Haven, Conn.
Sir: I think it is an outrage to normal society that the leading colleges and universities deliberately seek and honor the "oddball" candidate for admission. It is no wonder that these same institutions are plagued by sit-ins, riots, sex orgies and drugs, for this is the world of the oddball, who has no respect or responsibility toward law and order.
What has happened to decency, honesty, integrity, ambition and the clean-cut American youth—are these no longer desirable characteristics?
MARGARET H. WICKER East Norwich, N.Y.
To Be Frank
Sir: Thank you for the informative article on the Oscar Mayer company [April 12], and for printing what I consider to be my theme song. I love it and sing it at least twice a day. I teach high school French, so I ventured Oscar Mayer á la française :
Je voudrais être une saucisse Oscar Mayer.
Je m'amuserais, oui, je m'amuserais.
Et si j'étais une saucisse Oscar Mayer,
Tout le monde, oui, tout le monde m'aimerait.
H. JOSEPH BECKMAN Los Angeles
Sir: The story making the rounds here: There was this surfer sitting on his board off Santa Monica one day, when a bottle floated by. A note inside said: "You have been granted three wishes." He thought "sheez," but decided to give it a try. So he wished for a Cadillac convertible—and boingg—there it was on the beach. He thought "crazy," and wished for enough $100 bills to fill it. And shazam—it was filled. He started on a third wish—should it be women, fame? These he could buy. So he decided to save the third wish, and drove that Cad down the freeway. Feeling extra good, he started singing along with the radio, which just happened to be airing a commercial: "O, I wish I were an Oscar Mayer wiener."
(THE REV.) KENNETH E. HARTZHEIM Fullerton, Calif.