Maureen Dowd column on Landon

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Landon board needs to stop viewing these horrific crimes as isolated incidents and honestly admit that there is a pattern here. Then the school needs to do a complete evaluation of the school and make dramatic changes. I actually think the schools accrediting organization (AIMS) should demand this at the next review. They are breeding monsters on that campus. I would never send a son there, and I'll keep my daughters a safe distance from any Landon suitors.

Unfortunately, their answer is to hire a PR firm to improve their image, not their culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Landon board needs to stop viewing these horrific crimes as isolated incidents and honestly admit that there is a pattern here. Then the school needs to do a complete evaluation of the school and make dramatic changes.

The board is part of the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is easy to pile on one incident -- and especially one reported largely anecdotally -- and to draw broad and specious conclusions about the associated institution. With regard to Landon -- having lived decades in the Washington area, with children and friends' children in a dozen plus different area high schools, Landon is a stand out in the quality of students (the ones that don't make the news -- whether good or bad news), the academic rigor of the school, and the quality of the teachers. I could not have asked for a better education or experience for my boys, none of which played varsity sports.

which 'one'? There are quite a few, and just want some clarity.

[Anonymous]

No PR firm would advise the US Head to refer to this latest outrage as an 'activity'. See today's WashPost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:16:29 there have been a few others

Notable alumni/Landon School

Tully Alford - cult figure, inspiration for character of same name in The Addams Family (film)
Yannique Barker - aka Stacks, rapper, CEO of SoBe Entertainment
Michael D. Barnes - Former Congressman (D-MD)
Alan Brinkley - Historian and Columbia University provost
Ryan Curtis - NCAA Lacrosse All-American, member of USA Lacrosse national team, head coach of Vermont lacrosse
Donald Dell - Former Davis Cup player and coach, and subsequently, a prominent sports agent
Ahmet Ertegün - Atlantic Records founder and Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame honoree
Fred Hetzel - Former #1 NBA draft pick, played six seasons in NBA
Rush Holt - Physicist and Congressman (D-NJ)
Sandy Hume - distinguished political journalist for The Hill magazine
Ken Jenkins - NFL running back from 1983 to 1986 with Detroit Lions and Washington Redskins; finished third in league in combined return yards in 1985
Knight Kiplinger - Editor-in-Chief of Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine
Gregory S. Martin - Retired U.S. Air Force four-star general, Distinguished Service Medal recipient, former Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe
James McEwan - World class whitewater canoeing specialist, bronze medalist at 1972 Summer Olympics
Fred McNair - Former #1 ranked Professional Tennis Doubles player
Hassan Nemazee - multimillionaire investor and founder and CEO of Nemazee Capital Group
Frank Parsons - Captain of the U.S. Olympic Rifle Team 1952
Maury Povich- Host of Maury, a syndicated talk show
John Jacob Rhodes III - Former Congressman (R-AZ)
Teddy Sears - Actor, plays Richard Woolsley on the television series Raising the Bar
Topper Shutt - Weather Reporter, WUSA-TV
Tom Scott - Co-Founder of Nantucket Nectars
Matt Ward - Tewaaraton Trophy winner and NCAA Lacrosse All-American>

I don't consider alums that become professional sports players assets to society. When you subtract out all the sports guys this is hardly an impressive list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No PR firm would advise the US Head to refer to this latest outrage as an 'activity'. See today's WashPost.

Could you post a link? I couldn't find this. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

PP--never mind, found it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:16:29 there have been a few others

Notable alumni/Landon School

Tully Alford - cult figure, inspiration for character of same name in The Addams Family (film)
Yannique Barker - aka Stacks, rapper, CEO of SoBe Entertainment
Michael D. Barnes - Former Congressman (D-MD)
Alan Brinkley - Historian and Columbia University provost
Ryan Curtis - NCAA Lacrosse All-American, member of USA Lacrosse national team, head coach of Vermont lacrosse
Donald Dell - Former Davis Cup player and coach, and subsequently, a prominent sports agent
Ahmet Ertegün - Atlantic Records founder and Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame honoree
Fred Hetzel - Former #1 NBA draft pick, played six seasons in NBA
Rush Holt - Physicist and Congressman (D-NJ)
Sandy Hume - distinguished political journalist for The Hill magazine
Ken Jenkins - NFL running back from 1983 to 1986 with Detroit Lions and Washington Redskins; finished third in league in combined return yards in 1985
Knight Kiplinger - Editor-in-Chief of Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine
Gregory S. Martin - Retired U.S. Air Force four-star general, Distinguished Service Medal recipient, former Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe
James McEwan - World class whitewater canoeing specialist, bronze medalist at 1972 Summer Olympics
Fred McNair - Former #1 ranked Professional Tennis Doubles player
Hassan Nemazee - multimillionaire investor and founder and CEO of Nemazee Capital Group
Frank Parsons - Captain of the U.S. Olympic Rifle Team 1952
Maury Povich- Host of Maury, a syndicated talk show
John Jacob Rhodes III - Former Congressman (R-AZ)
Teddy Sears - Actor, plays Richard Woolsley on the television series Raising the Bar
Topper Shutt - Weather Reporter, WUSA-TV
Tom Scott - Co-Founder of Nantucket Nectars
Matt Ward - Tewaaraton Trophy winner and NCAA Lacrosse All-American>

Is this list real or is it a spoof?

"Tully Alford - cult figure, inspiration for character of same name in The Addams Family"? "Frank Parsons - Captain of the U.S. Olympic Rifle Team 1952"?

Lets not forget:

Frank "Chubbsey" Funkwit - World class Winter Biathlete (5th place, 1978) and Wifebeater
Chip Castle - Publisher of reknowned "Concrete Monthly" magazine
Dougal Dickweed - One-term Congressman (R-AZ)

[Anonymous]

So here's a question: What is Landon doing about this? Concrete example: I graduated from a prominent private school (not in DC) about 15 years ago. We had an incident where several kids attended an off-campus party that was deemed to be racially insensitive. It was nowhere NEAR this sort of behavior, but yes, inappropriate. In addition to disciplining the students involved, and making them each give speeches (yes, speeches, in front of the entire school) apologizing, our school, our brother school, and our sister school had several meetings over the course of the week discussing it, brought speakers in at various points throughout the year, and cancelled classes for several days and instead made us attend forums at each of the three schools on various topics -- from the history of civil rights in this country to treating your peers with respect. Looking back, I am just so impressed with the way they handled things. But boy, radio silence from Landon, huh? No wonder these kids keep doing stuff like this. They should be held accountable by their parents AND the school community they harmed in doing this. I just cannot believe that something more has not been expected from the school.

[Anonymous]

did landon really hire a pr firm?


Who ever cut and pasted the list from wikipedia dropped off the last name on the list
George Huguely--accused of murdering his girlfriend.

[Anonymous]

I would doubt Landon hired a PR firm. They likely don't think this as a problem and think the trouble is with anyone who would see this behavior as sick.

[Anonymous]

"is a problem..."

[Anonymous]

To the person that said FIRE THE ADMINISTRATION - wrong! How about blaming the parents and the boys themselves? Look inward first.

[Anonymous]

Just because you hire a pr firm doesn't mean you think you have a problem. It just means you think other people think you have a problem.

[Anonymous]

Hmmm pp...usually it's a bit of both...realizing there is a problem and knowing that other know it too.