In NRO, Jay Nordlinger writes on varied subjects: human rights, sports, dictatorships, politics, music, travel, deaths, national affairs, etc. – a cornucopia of life and world events.

In his latest post, Mr. Noerdlinger defends legacy admissions. Several weeks ago, a story from Amherst College in Amherst, MA, caught his attention:  “Amherst College Ends Legacy Admissions Favoring Children of Alumni.”

Support of Legacy Admissions

There now seems to be a consensus against legacy admissions. Readers learn why he, Jay Nordlinger, has a “soft spot for them.”

I think there is something nice about an association between a family and a college: members of a family going to the same college, generation after generation (as long as those members are roughly qualified). Wearing the same colors, rooting for the same team.

Maybe having the same professors, for a couple of generations. Making financial contributions to the college. Having a loyalty.

This is a happy and benign kind of tribalism, I think.

I would not favor legacy admissions in Japan, say, or France: countries with a few elite universities and institutes, determining the fates of millions. That’s different. But America, with its jillion colleges and universities, dotting the land? From sea to shining sea?

Anyway, another topic to mull over and debate.