Saving
I-House may save GSB
I would like to add my voice to the loud chorus
of graduates who are happy and relieved that International House
will remain ("Chicago Journal," June/00). However, some of my
reasons are different: I believe the Graduate School of Business
will be better off.
As someone who spent two years at the GSB, I can
state categorically that it was I-House that got me through. The
GSB had students who cared only about how much money they made
at their next job, a generally indifferent faculty, and an administration
which cared only about its own agenda.
My views were not unusual. The first time Business
Week surveyed students, GSB students in the class after mine gave
the GSB horrible reviews, ranking Chicago literally dead last
of all the student groups surveyed. The overall ranking plummeted,
leading the administration, for the first time, to consider how
they treated students and to establish LEAD and other programs.
It is really disgraceful (but not surprising) that
the GSB would eye the prime real estate and convince the University
administration to let I-House deteriorate until they could find
some excuse to knock down the beautiful building. Happily, the
less greedy have prevailed. Now, the GSB should work to ensure
a successful I-House, one in which GSB and other students will
thrive. The GSB will be better for it.
Debby
Prigal, MBA'87
Washington,
DC