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More Across the College Green
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As their college days grow short, many seniors are thinking about gifts -- the briefcases, portfolios and other goodies they might receive to celebrate their graduation and the start of their careers. For nearly a century, though, some seniors have thought about a different kind of gift: a present to their soon-to-be alma mater. Their generosity is evident all over campus. One of the first class gifts is among the most recognizable: the Class Gate across Union Street from Baker University Center. Donated by the Class of 1912, it was replaced with a newer version in the early 1960s. Chances are you have a picture of it in your scrapbook, perhaps as a new freshman with Mom and Dad beaming proudly next to you. "Physical
monuments and enhancements to the buildings and grounds tend to be what people like because they can come back to see and touch them," says Richard Harrison, who advised the senior class for 13 years while working in Alumni Relations.
Choosing a gift is a primary task of the senior class officers. Some poll seniors for ideas; others simply ask University officials what's needed most on campus. "The senior class has to come up with a lot of ideas quickly that will resonate with the idea of leaving something to the University to say, "thank you," notes Harrison, now the Division of Student Affairs' assistant dean for development. Earlier class gifts leaned toward the big and heavy, such as the brick water fountain behind Chubb Hall, courtesy of the Class of '48, or ornamental, like landscaping projects. Recent classes have made more utilitarian contributions. Take the Class of 1993, which bought recycling containers for the residence halls. "At the time, the University was not where we wanted it to be in terms of campuswide recycling. Keep in mind, this was the early '90s," says Rick Frohlich, president of the Class of '93. "The other two officers and I were all strongly in favor of a recycling-related gift." The shift in gift types reflects changes in demographics, says Ralph Amos, assistant vice president for alumni relations. Until enrollment exploded in the 1950s and '60s, senior classes were small with an esprit de corps forged over four years. Today's senior classes have more than 4,500 students who may be finishing in three years -- or six. The result is that seniors are less likely to identify themselves as members of a particular graduating class than did their parents or grandparents. "Today's students identify more with their individual schools or colleges or activities rather than a class year," Amos notes. To deal with the shift, senior classes have changed fund-raising tactics. Instead of conducting T-shirt sales or passing the plate, they set up small businesses. Frohlich's class raised more than $11,000 in three days by selling discounts on textbooks. For the past several years, the main fund-raiser has been a trip to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. The event has become a professionally run excursion complete with motorcoaches, nice hotels, campus police escorts and an option to fly. Through the trip, class officers hope to create more of that sense of unity experienced by earlier classes. "It's become more about class bonding" than just a road trip, says Michael Murphy, president of the Class of 2002. And true to the trend away from monuments, they want to leave $30,000 to endow an annual scholarship for a senior who demonstrates exceptional leadership and community service. "We wanted something that would be here from the time we left and place a greater emphasis on academics," Murphy says. More changes may be ahead. Harrison says graduating seniors of many universities make multi-year pledges as a class gift. That could benefit large-scale projects on campus, such as a much-desired new student center, and create an ongoing habit of philanthropy. If that were to happen, Amos says, it could become the most lasting gift of all. Corinne Colbert |
