GQ thinks we’re kind of a big deal. And who are we to disagree?
Since Pepperdine surfaced as No. 5 on GQ’s tongue-in-cheek “The 10 Douchiest Colleges in America: 2011 Edition” July 20, the link has gone viral within the “Peppervine” as students share their thoughts on the high-brow critique via Facebook and Twitter.
Between the Huffington Post’s rating as one of the “trendiest” colleges in the nation last month, Pepperdine appears to be on the radar of popular media this summer.
“I’m surprised Pepperdine, out of all colleges in this nation, was chosen for the list and made number five,” junior Scott Cowie said. “To be on the list shows that we’re known and we’re kind of a big deal.
“Since we all walk around thinking ‘We’re kind of a big deal,’ the article just boosts Pepperdine’s ‘douchiness’ rather than ‘puts us in check.’”
Senior Christina Alcaraz shared Cowie’s sentiment.
“I think it’s great that we were included,” she said. “It just means we are a known and envied school.”
The article classifies Pepperdine as the home of the “Heidi Montag Bible fellowship douche,” asking “Are you a Christian but also really want a Mercedes SLK in Caspian blue and to be on whatever the next ‘Hills’ is called?”
It continues, listing a typical student’s life goals: “Stay celibate until marriage; buy a townhouse in Newport Beach; convert all gays; meet someone with the ‘three Hs: hot, humble, and holy.’”
But are students offended? Not according to Cowie, who goes far enough to say we’re flattered.
“They describe us pretty well and I think, if anything, we all, deep down, appreciate the description,” Cowie said.
“From what I’ve heard and seen, our student body has had a more ‘Thank you, it’s about time someone gave us our due credit’ attitude. We’re Waves … and we’re proud of it.”
Alcaraz raised a point that the article was intended for comedy.
“The things they said about every university were generalizations and stereotypes but it was in the humor section, which means it was meant to be taken as a joke.”
However, Cowie does have a bone to pick with GQ about their assertion that Pepperdine students aspire to “convert all gays.”
“I think it’s good to set the record straight that a growing majority of Waves are accepting of the gay community and the atmosphere is changing and turning away from the ‘convert them all’ stance that the article portrays,” Cowie said.
Read the full article at: http://www.gq.com/entertainment/humor/201108/douchiest-colleges-america-2011#ixzz1SsIz3lbm
