Dear Ms. Tracy Jan

I think it’s time we had some words. As far as I know we have never met, but since you decided to insult me via the Boston Globe I only think it’s fair that you get it handed back to you via the Suffolk Voice.

For those of you who aren’t aware of Jan’s attack on me, you should be, because she most likely insulted you as well. Ms. Jan works for the Boston Globe, (no introduction needed, being one of the oldest newspapers in the country) and last Tuesday sent out a hired (or printed) hit on Suffolk University.

Jan’s article, which ran front page (no small feat) on the Boston Globe on Tuesday didn’t talk about the war or injured soldiers, politics or the health care plan; instead her article talked about how Suffolk University “has not managed to break into the ranks of selective, elite universities” said Jan, according to The Boston Globe Report.

Her article titled “Suffolk’s Next Challenge” began with admiring our University’s unbelievable campus, location and buildings, reads the article. However after luring readers in with charming descriptions of our “glittery swath” (Jan’s description of our school's campus) she then proceeded to smack readers in the face with quotes from disgruntled alumni and angry Suffolk Trustees.

Suffolk students and facility have been very aware of its “next challenge.” No one in Boston is more aware then the Suffolk students about how much the University costs or how much the president is being paid, however, nobody was prepared for our school's “next Challenge” to be answering to the Boston globe and defending our school's integrity to practically the entire country.

Jan goes on to discuss how much Suffolk is depending on tuition and fees to fund operating costs, then of course discusses the amount of money President Sargentt is being paid.

Really Jan? Kind of old news don’t ya think? Before I refute these points let me go to where Jan draws blood.

“[Suffolk] accepts nearly 85 percent of undergraduate applicants, many with mediocre test scores and grades. Only a fifth of those admitted choose to enroll. And only 55 percent of its students graduate within six years, compared with 76 percent among Massachusetts private colleges”

Wow. So besides attending an overpriced intuition I am now stupid for going here. Thanks Jan, thanks a lot.

So, let’s start at the beginning shall we? Although we appreciate how much you admired our buildings we do go to school here for more than the UNBELIEVABLE, ONCE IN A LIFE TIME LOCATION. Besides our dorm room buildings gazing over the golden dome of the state house and our library, donated by an alumnus who managed to like the school (gasp) looking at Sam Adams cemetery, we have an award winning business school that you didn’t mention once in your article. That’s right, award winning. A freshman in the Sawyer Business School earlier this year won a national business competition getting 3rd place out of 25,000 students and got to meet the president of the United States as a result of his merit. Pretty awesome. Pretty damn awesome.

Continuing on, our tuition, which pays for our operating funds, LIKE EVERY OTHER SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY is one of the cheapest in Boston (Hello Boston University, you’re only 50,000 dollars a year.) How else does a school pay for operating funds if not from the student’s tuition? P.S. that’s what we are paying for.

Then of course there is the whole President Sargent dilemma. But haven’t we heard enough about that yet? Jan made a point to quote alumni who stressed President Sargent’s age, but Lady, you work for an old newspaper (which has had a 30 perfect fall in advertising revenue according to the New York Times) and no one is making fun of you.

I’m not going to say I’m happy about how much he is getting paid because I’m not, but I would rather a hardworking president of a university be paid $1 million then a Celtics player be paid $22 million.

Here is an idea, why don’t you write an article about that Jan?

But you wouldn’t do that because you write about education. According to the Boston Globe you cover elementary and high school education. Well Jan, in college we do things a little differently, like cite our sources, and if you would check Collegeboard.com it would inform you that our acceptance rates are 81% not 85%.

One of my favorite quotes that Jan decided to put in her article was from a Suffolk trustee who commented on how the Suffolk professors haven’t gotten any “Nobel Prizes.”

First of all I didn’t realize that was a standard thing to do. Second of all if Jan had bothered to quote any CURRENT Suffolk students or professors she would have learned that we have many outstanding and accomplished professors on staff (one being the inventor of the glue stick).

But no, Jan did not ask Suffolk students what they thought of our school, she only asked Suffolk trustees, who are probably just jealous that their overpaid salary isn’t as high as the president’s, and alumni.

So in conclusion, Jan, I thank you for publicly embarrassing me and the school I attend because it was great publicity for our University and anyone who currently goes here knows different.

They know how far our school has come in just 10 years, and they know that we have so many students coming here they can’t all live on campus, however we are building new dorms for next year to house them in. If you go to Suffolk you know all about the plays, the clubs, the great community and the unbelievable people you will meet. If you attend Suffolk you know all about our amazing co-op opportunities and internships that the professors go out of their way to provide through their connections they have made from years of experience in the field.

I love Suffolk University and hope that the people of Boston, and whoever else reads the Globe anymore, understands that going to Suffolk is an unbelievable opportunity and anyone would be lucky to attend.