DONATE? WE STILL GO HERE!
Art by Sara McConnell
Toward the end of March, you might have gotten some classroom visits from Syracuse University staff, during which your class received donuts, Otto pins and bingo cards—but you should know at this point that nothing is truly free here. It was all to ease you into a conversation about donating money. Not to get your parents to donate money, but you: a student. We here at Jerk have just one question: In this economy?
March 24 was SU Giving Day, an event completely dedicated to fundraising even more money for a school that can currently cost over $94,000 to attend, according to SU’s website. While most people know that colleges will bother you for the rest of your life about donating once you’re officially an alumnus, getting asked to give money while you’re still paying to go to school is a different kind of awkward.
This year, over $3 million was raised from donors, according to SU’s website. It’s a new record for the amount fundraised in a single day. Whether this was a result of boosted morale from the conveniently timed hiring of Gerry McNamara, or just a testament to the persistence of everyone who dons the Otto the Orange suit, we really couldn’t tell you. Regardless, we have to ask: When is it enough?
Sure, SU isn’t known for its socioeconomic diversity, and that’s no secret. But there are still plenty of students who work jobs—often more than one—and take on loans to afford to go to this university that constantly boasts its school spirit and opportunities, because sometimes financial aid just isn’t enough. They’re already giving all they can through their cost of attendance, and nobody wants to be asked to donate what they don’t have. And it certainly doesn't soften the blow when someone’s making the ask while they give you a free golf cart joyride around campus.
Furthermore, seniors were especially encouraged to donate a class gift of $26 each. Sure, it seems like a small ask. After all, that amount of money wouldn’t even cover the cost of a non-illegallyscreenprinted Senior Send Off Bar Crawl t-shirt. But is it really a respectful thing to ask seniors when they’ve spent the last four years of their lives paying to go to school at SU and are actively preparing for what might be the biggest life transition they’ve experienced?
We’ll be the first to admit we’re grateful every day to go to a college that emphasizes such a strong sense of community and alumni network, but at the same time, are we just numbers and sources of money to this institution before we’re people? If so, at least wait till we’ve graduated to ask us for money. Maybe by then, we’ll have fulltime jobs and actually be able to give