Rochester Quotes

“One goes where the talent is.”

—Jamal Rossi, interim dean of the Eastman School, commenting in the New York Times on the increasing number of classical musicians educated and trained in China and the implications of that growing talent pool for conservatories in the United States.

MSNBC

“[I]t turns out that in a paradoxical way, giving gets you more, and I think that’s an important message in a culture that’s pretty often getting messages to the opposite effect.”—Richard Ryan, professor of psychology, psychiatry, and education, commenting on a study by Louisville researchers in which people reported feeling happier when they took part in meaningful activities rather than in activities that simply brought them pleasure.

Bloomberg News

“This is like the nuclear bomb issue from [SEC Chairman Christopher] Cox. To so radically change the structure of securities-dispute resolution should only occur if Congress weighs in.”—President Joel Seligman, discussing a move by the SEC chairman to give a health care company protection from shareholder lawsuits even though the company is being punished for fraud.

Los Angeles Times

“I will have to stop and think: Could I go to jail for trying to stop this bleeding?”—Nancy Stanwood, professor of obstetrics and gynecology, commenting on this spring’s 5–4 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court upholding a federal ban on a procedure that opponents call “partial-birth abortion,” but that physicians say can be necessary to save a woman’s life.

New York Times

“I’m sure part of what we’re seeing is people are saying, ’Well, if the Ivies and Duke are inaccessible, where do I go to get a similar academic experience?’”—Jonathan Burdick, dean of admissions and financial aid, talking about the rising cachet of universities like Rochester as prospective students adjust to the crushing competition for spots in college.

Newsday

“Some people will tell you this career is going to go out of favor, and yet the jobs still have to be done, no matter what they call us.”— Marilyn Nickerson, an assistant in the Office of Evaluation at the School of Nursing in an Associated Press report about the titles used to describe people who work in “administrative support,” a category that used to be lumped together as “secretarial.”

Wall Street Journal

“It’s very hard to go at most startup projects solo.”—Adam Bates, a graduate student at the Simon School and head of a student entrepreneurship club at the University, talking about efforts by Rochester and other universities to recognize the entrepreneurial initiatives of students.