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August 30, 2006
Yale Shmale
A small Canadian university has sparked controversy with its recruitment drive by using posters and a website mocking US President George W Bush.
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Lakehead University in northern Ontario set up www.yaleshmale.com in a bid to attract potential new students.
"There are universities and then there are universities. So let's not beat around the bush," it says.
It shows a picture of Yale graduate Mr Bush with the caption: "Graduating from an Ivy League university doesn't necessarily mean you're smart."
"It was literally a tongue-in-cheek way of getting attention," university president and vice-chancellor Frederick Gilbert told Reuters news agency.
The website had received more than 7,000 hits, he said on Monday, and online comments had been 95% positive.
But he acknowledged the university had received e-mails which were "running in the opposite direction", which was a concern.
"Older generations" and some of Lakehead's students considered the campaign inappropriate, he said.
The university would not retract its campaign, however, although it would try to respond to individual concerns, he said.
Student union president Isabelle Poniatowski told Reuters the campaign was low-brow and lacked class.
"It still strikes me as being very repugnant," she said. "Lakehead has so many positive attributes that you could really sell to people that live down south."
Sorry, but I think its kinda funny, in a "canadian" sort of way and, if attendance is down, well, it really will be Bush's fault. I'd really like to have one of those posters, if anyone is inclined to send me one.
Posted by LindaSoG at August 30, 2006 07:51 AM
Comments
And it wasn't even écrit en français.:)
Posted by: Jack at August 30, 2006 01:31 PM
This advertisement wasn't even écrit en français.:)
Posted by: Jack at August 30, 2006 01:33 PM
I wanted to wish you a happy blogiversary tomorrow.
Posted by: Debbie at August 31, 2006 08:45 AM
A recent poll showed that Canadians lean far more to the right(Conservative) than their politicians, media or institutions indicate. Like in America, their colleges/universities are out of step with the populace.
Posted by: TomR at August 31, 2006 11:46 AM