Trivial rankings besides the point

Think back to the infamous "play days" in elementary school, when children sprinted and jump roped in pursuit of a hallowed trophy and a few first prize ribbons. In the decade since our own playground competitions, the trophy has been stowed away in favor of "participants' ribbons" for all contest participants, and maybe even a free pizza party to boot. The first place winner is lost in the now-popular emphasis on "equality" and a non-competitive spirit. \nThe college rankings process has been similarly diluted in the past decade, victim to the ideology that every child -- or college -- is a winner, deserving of a first prize ribbon. \nBrigham Young University has snagged the most recent ranking title from The Princeton Review and Men's Fitness magazine as the nation's fittest college campus. On http://www.collegeprowler.com, surveys and guidebooks rank schools in 20 different categories -- plenty of prestige to go around. Every college has a chance to be on top -- Washington's Whitman College offers the best college parking and San Diego State University has the best weather. \nPressures to perform well in subjective evaluations have motivated colleges and organizations to endorse a new ranking technique -- that of specialization. If a college can't have it all, it can at least take comfort in the best drug policy enforcement in the country, like Furman University in South Carolina. If academic rigor is lacking at University of Miami, according to College Prowler, it can flaunt its A-plus score for student nightlife.\nThe increased focus on individual disciplines and trivial criteria could be the product of a society for which every factor of college life is worth weighty consideration. Or maybe we all just want a prize. \nWhat's important in a college is the total package. While specific criteria can be useful in preparing to attend a university, some rankings range far from their original purpose: to measure the quality of universities as academic institutions, and to provide students with a single, coherent analysis of a number of factors that contribute to a positive university experience.\nEvery school has positive qualities, be they average student attractiveness and beautiful weather, or a stellar security force. But overly specialized rankings are beside the point, and more indicative of a non-competitive trend than helpful to potential college students. \nThe minutia can serve a purpose. An incoming freshman at Davidson College, if he or she has a car, will take comfort in expecting some of the best parking in the country. But quality parking will probably not heavily influence a pre-frosh's decision to attend any college.\nIn contrast, the impressive range of academic and technological resources that gave IU its red-hot status are crucial to involvement with and understanding of the contemporary world. IU hasn't snagged the trophy yet, but our recent ranking brings us one step closer to that goal. Brigham Young's fit college students can wave their participant ribbons as long as they'd like, but if any college wants to put stock in subjective rankings, it has no choice but to step up and go for the gold.