I am writing in response to Stephen Sears’ opinion piece in the Oct. 1 edition of The News, entitled “The Awful Truth: Superficial Priorities.” I graduated in 2003, after having been a member of the Student Government Association, serving two years as the vice president for financial affairs and being a member of the University’s Committee on Funding Priorities (where administrators go to ask for money to pay for their top 100 priorities).

Let me first offer due respect to those that hold opinions similar to Mr. Sears, who suggests that pegging Northeastern University’s institutional priorities to the whims of US News’ editorial board is dangerous. The appearance of US News’ annual review of colleges and universities has led to what one could justifiably argue is an uncomfortable homogenization of priorities in higher education. Had US News been ranking colleges prior to the post-modern era, I can’t even imagine what Northeastern University or its academic programs would look like today. Mr. Sears, you’re right, US News’ rankings are rife with hidden agendas and may be harmful in some very important ways.

But let me submit to you the following: Northeastern is a VASTLY better place to live, learn and graduate from than it ever was before, thanks in large part to US News ‘ World Report. Why, you ask? Consider the following: Pressure from US News’ convoluted (yet objective) ranking system has forced those in higher ed to “get off their butts and do something.” This is no small achievement. NU’s motivation came in 1994, when it fell short by nearly 2,000 freshmen. In growing numbers, students decided that they wanted to go to schools that offered something more than a comparatively cheap college diploma. Armed with information, however spotty or partial, students voted with their feet. You and I may disagree on how or why US News ranks what it does, but their approach to higher education spawned a redefinition of the phrase “student life” in American higher ed.

Have you noticed Northeastern has had only six presidents in its 105-year history? Being in charge used to be a bit like working your way up the management ranks in a steel mill: you put in your time, you spend as long as you want at the top, and then step down when you feel like it. A decade ago, budget deficits, rundown buildings, demoralizing staff layoffs and faculty pay cuts were the accepted norm. Competitive pressure pushed the board to take NU in another direction.

Under the direction of President Freeland, a career urban higher ed specialist, Northeastern has assembled a cadre of academic administrative professionals unparalleled in talent in the university’s history, with hundreds of years of combined experience in some of America’s most powerful universities and corporations. They are recruited to work at NU from other high-ranked institutions, having made reputations for more than just “putting in their time” on the academic assembly line. More importantly, when they have outlived their usefulness to Northeastern in a role, they are now, God forgive us, replaced.

Constant competitive pressure has forced this team to recreate a Northeastern education, now known as “The Experience,” in the same way the Cold War forced the United States and its allies to be faster, better and smarter (but never cheaper). These people know what they’re doing. But just like anything worth saving, the survival of Northeastern University was not then and never will be guaranteed, things must change and you have to trust those most capable to create and innovate.

In more general terms, competition forces huge capital outlays on people and things. Fact: you the students have never had access to more financial aid, more professional customer service, nicer facilities, more sophisticated technology, more effective faculty and lecturers and more relevant degree programs. Fact: NU has never had bigger budget surpluses, more alumni involvement, better press (or spin when needed) or better managed athletic programs. Fact: NU’s desire to move up in US News’ rankings requires these outlays on skilled people and better things, and more are added every year.

As for rankings propaganda and institutional dogma: that’s how you know NU is paying attention. Don’t listen to spin from petty Top 50 school administrators: they care MORE than NU about their ranking, and their desire to publicly downplay US News’ importance every year they don’t rank number one shows that. As long as NU does pay attention, you, the student, and I, the alumnus, will continue to benefit from the heated, uneven competition that US News’ editorial staff has created in a vacuum of any previous qualitative comparisons. Competition is good for everyone, including those at the top. You don’t have to believe me but talk to the Golden Grads who will come back Homecoming Weekend, wondering if they got off at the wrong T stop.

-John Sullivan was a ’03 graduate of Northeastern with a B.A. in political science.