To the Editor:

Re: “A Modest Proposal for Dealing with ‘Non-Ivy’ Colleges,” Opinion, March 11

I sympathize with those who have been deeply offended by Ann Coulter’s ’84 comments, I really do. But responses like those from the author of this article take things entirely too far.

As a student in the College of Arts and Sciences, I find myself profoundly insulted by the column. It is laden with propositions that were supposed to be sarcastic, but failed. The attempt was to vilify Ms. Coulter, yet by sardonically adopting her opinion as truth it gives the impression that this is how all Arts students feel.

Not only is this categorically false, but sentiments like these are only more divisive. The intent was to demonize Ms. Coulter. Instead it serves to encourage a sort of “Arts” hating that can only have deleterious effects on student morale.

While no one should ever say that an Arts education is better than any of the other colleges, it is undeniably different. “Any person, any study,” right? Just as an ILR or Ag or Hotel degree puts one in the forefront of his or her chosen field, so does mine; that it is more akin — in subject matter alone — to the other Ivies is inconsequential. Don’t belittle my degree because Coulter insulted yours. It is demeaning. We all made it here, and regardless of what we were before Cornell, our educations are what we make of them.

Coulter’s attack was isolated, politically motivated and childish. Someone wishing to respond directly to her would do best addressing her. Not us.

Aaron Weinstein ’09