Two Adventist Universities Receive, Tout Glowing Media Coverage
Two Seventh-day Adventist universities, one from South America and one from North America, received favorable media coverage for their advancement of healthy lifestyles and values. On October 16 at River Plate Adventist University (Universidad Adventista del Plata or UAP in Spanish) in Argentina, officials signed a document attesting the school’s official certification as the first “Healthy University” in the country. The institution has promoted the Adventist health message for 116 years. The alcohol- and tobacco-free campus provides students, faculty, and staff with fresh air and peaceful surroundings, enhancing their academic and spiritual lives. Numerous national media outlets reported the school’s first-of-its-kind “Healthy University” designation. The university has used the positive publicity to promote its campus. A headline on the university website reads, “UAP is the first ‘Healthy University’ in the country.”
Loma Linda University received accolades in a different way. In September the university topped PayScale.com’s ranking of schools whose graduates felt their work made the world a better place. The Atlantic and The Washington Post led national media coverage of Loma Linda’s top ranking. Loma Linda beat out schools like Princeton and Harvard in providing education leading to greatest levels of professional satisfaction. No ceremonies were needed since the results came from a national survey, but LLU administrators used the honor in promoting the school. Not without some reservation, noted the L.A. Times. The Times wrote that “as leaders of a Seventh-day Adventist institution, Loma Linda University administrators make it a point to not be too prideful, especially when it comes to touting their rankings.” Ultimately, the Times noted, the ranking was too good not to publicize.
