Description of the Setting

      Hope University (a pseudonym) is a public, four-year, liberal arts university, located in

 a large suburb about 30 miles south of Boston . Approximately 9,552 undergraduate 

students attend as well as 1,742 graduate students. Sixty-five percent of those who apply

 are admitted. Ninety-five percent of the students are from Massachusetts, and three 

percent attend part-time. Seventy-nine percent of the student body is white, fifty-eight 

percent are women, and forty-two percent are men. Six percent are black or African 

American, and six percent are Hispanic or Latino. Two percent are Asian. Twenty-two 

percent of students who attend Hope University had a high-school grade point average 

between 3.0 and 3.24. Thirty-four percent had a grade point average between 2.5 and 

2.99. Eleven percent had a 3.75 and higher, and eleven percent had a grade point average 

between a 3.5 and 3.74. Eight percent had a grade point average between 2.0 and 2.49.