DR. WALLACE: My grandmother has been living with us for the past year, ever since my grandfather passed away. When my grandfather was alive, seeing them was always enjoyable. But now that Grandmother lives with us, things have changed so much that I don't like being around her.

All she does is gripe about everything about me — my clothes, hairstyle, music, friends and even my boyfriend. I try to explain why I wear the clothes I do, why I wear my hair a certain way, why I like my music and friends and why I love my boyfriend. All this does is lead to small arguments, especially when she criticizes my boyfriend. I'm 5 feet 2 inches tall and he's 5-foot-3 and she calls him "that little runt." If she wasn't my grandmother, I'd be tempted to wring her neck.

I've discussed this problem with my mom, but she thinks I'm overreacting. Help! — Nameless, Moncton, New Brunswick.

NAMELESS: Your grandmother is clearly overstepping her bounds. Rather than bonding with you and being your friend, she has decided to become a live-in critic. When she starts going negative, your best bet is to ignore her. Say nothing. Just get out of her sight. Eventually, she'll get the message.

HOWARD UNIVERSITY IS A PRESTIGIOUS UNIVERSITY

DR. WALLACE: I'm an African-American young woman and I'll be in a college or university in the fall of 2014. My goal is to become a college professor in American History. My high school grades are excellent. I would like to attend a college or university that has a predominantly African-American student body. My U.S. History teacher has suggested that I check out Howard University. He said it was a fine university and that he graduated from Howard. But most college or university graduates say nice things about their alma mater. That's why I'm contacting you. Do you have any information on Howard University? I sure hope so. — Tristina, Atlanta, Ga.

TRISTINA: Howard University was founded in 1867 in Washington, D.C. and has a coed enrollment of about 900 students. Howard is regarded as one of the prestigious institutions of higher learning in the United States. The most popular fields of study are liberal arts, engineering, pre-medicine and education.

If you have the opportunity to attend Howard University, give it serious consideration.

HE SAID, "GOLF ISN'T A SPORT!"

DR. WALLACE: Do you think that athletics play an important role in a high school? I am not an athlete and I don't like sports. — Nameless, Hobart, Ind.

NAMELESS: Yes, athletics play an important role in the total educational program. Those who don't participate in sports programs can still enjoy the games and show school spirit. But never should any extracurricular school program be more important than academics. When an athlete gets a free pass in his or her classes, the spirit of education has been violated.

In school districts where athletics are more important than academics, the winning coach is usually a local hero, and athletes at the school are pampered and protected — and ultimately cheated of the chance to learn.

Several years ago I spoke at a high school in Texas. After the speech, I was admiring the huge athletic trophies encased in numerous display cases. I asked the principal, a former football coach, if trophies for choral music, band, debate and scholarship were included in the ornate cases that were near his office. I'll never forget his answer: "Son, the only trophies that I want to see every day are the championship kind for football, basketball, baseball and every other competitive sport except golf. Golf isn't a sport!"

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at rwallace@galesburg.net. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.