Bates Dean of Admissions Wylie Mitchell appeared on WNYC radio’s issue-oriented talk program “On The Line.” The topic of the program was “Feeling Testy: Are Standardized Tests Fair?” Guests Mitchell and Rebecca Zwick of the University of California, Santa Barbara discussed the importance of SATs in higher education.

WNYC AM/820 and FM/93.9 is New York’s premier public radio station, and is fully independent. “On the Line” is an issues-oriented talk show without political slant, which prides itself in advancing “dialogue, not diatribe.” Guests have included many well-known personalities including politicians, authors, journalists, academics, entertainers, and experts from all walks of life, from New York and around the world. The host of “On the Line” is Brian Lehrer.

Listen to clips: Below are selected highlights from the program. Clips are in MP3 format and require an MP3 player. All clips copyright 2002 WNYC radio, New York.

Clip 1: Background on Bates; small and tough school to get into

Clip 2: Why did Bates stop requiring the SAT?

Clip 3: Caller Dan in Manhattan. I’m a Bates alumnus ...

Clip 4: Does Bates have a luxury because you’re such a small school?

Clip 5: Caller Maria, a Bates parent in Brooklyn. Hooray for Bates …

The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer on PBS presented a segment about “The Great SAT Debate” on March 29. Bill Hiss ’66, vice president for external and alumni affairs at Bates College, was among the participants, who appeared via satellite uplinks from around the country.

Hiss led Bates’ admissions office as dean from 1978 to 1995 –  before the 1984 decision to make SATs optional at Bates and in the years of assessment since.

The other guests were: Richard Atkinson, president of the University of California System. Atkinson recently dropped a bombshell in academe when he announced that he will recommend dropping the SAT I requirement for the entire UC system.

Gaston Caperton, president of the College Board and former governor of West Virginia. The College Board administers the SAT.

John A. Blackburn, dean of admissions for the University of Virginia, a top public university that requires SATs.