Recently, I was disappointed to learn that the senior class gift for the Class of 2010 has been designated to scholarships for future students participating in the VISION program. This is not because I find anything wrong with the VISION program, but rather because of the lack of student input in this designation.
I first became aware of the designation via an e-mail sent to all seniors on April 11 from our class president, Thomas Engrav. In the section regarding the senior class gift, he writes, “I, along with a committee of seniors, decided that we’d like our class to raise money to create a scholarship that will support students who want to participate in the VISION program.” I do not know who the members of the committee referenced in the e-mail are or how or when it was set up. To my knowledge there was no vote taken to determine the membership of this committee.
I have chosen not to support the senior class gift because of the lack of representation given to the students of our class in designating the recipients of our generosity. To clarify, this has nothing to do with the quality or worthiness of the VISION program, but simply the fact that no one other than the members of the “committee” had any say in where the money is going. Had a class-wide election been held and the VISION program came out on top, I would have most definitely supported the fund. I was under the impression that in the past, senior gifts have gone into a general scholarship pool, supporting all future students equally with no designation. Any departure from this prior precedent should have been put to a vote by all members of our class.
Seniors, if you have not yet received a call from the St. Thomas Development Office soliciting a donation to the senior class gift, you will soon. I was contacted last night and shared my views with the student caller. If you feel the same way I do, I urge you to not support the Class of 2010 scholarship fund and outline your reasons for doing this to the student caller. I do hope that this sends a message to future classes to change the system and give seniors a voice in what happens with our gifts.
John Gummerson, senior
Just my dim vantage point,
I am also curious as to when he had the meeting at which they decided the gift. (This is coming from someone on the senior committee mailing list) The last email I received from Thomas Engrav was on the 11 of December. He had just held the first meeting the week beforehand. He talked many things, but the senior class gift was not decided in this meeting (or at least he did not record such facts in his minute’s email). Once again, that was the last email he ever sent me. I am not sure if there were no more meetings OR if he just dropped me from the committee. (I was not able to attend his first meeting, and I never got a notice that he set up a second one). From my understanding the senior council has not been very active at all. My reason for stating that is: they did not spend any of their allotted money in the fall (hence no senior events in the fall); their first meeting was mid-December; and no more mass meeting emails went out. I would not be surprise if this decision was made in haste, and/or behind closed doors. On the other hand, I approve of our class gift much more so than various choice of the past.
I completely agree and I feel that this gift has been chosen unjustly. VISION already has more publicity than most of the other clubs and they end up turning away applicants because of how popular it is. I would never have chose this as a senior gift and now that I am a senior, I apparently do not have a choice anyway.
Most of the clubs and groups I have been a part of on campus have lacked the funding and members usually have to pick up the slack depending on their commitment and personal finances. I do not understand why one group on campus should receive this funding over the other groups.
I have chosen not to donate any money towards the senior gift, instead donate towards the things on campus I would like to see last. I am greatly disappointed that my opinion is not valued by the senior chair and/or committee.
I understand the point about not getting a say in the senior gift allocation, however… VISION is an exceptional program who’s sole purpose is to bring good to people in unfortunate circumstances. I may be more upset about this had the committee undemocratically decided to buy a “Class of 2010” bench and place it in Father Deases lawn or something. So just for the fact of VISION being such a great program and historically having accomplished great feats in helping people, I’m not terribly troubled about the consequences of the senior committee decision.
I was also on the senior class mailing list and I don’t recall there being an e-mail about VISION being chosen as our senior class gift. I don’t believe this is necessarily an “unworthy” cause but I also questioned how it was chosen. More disturbing to me is the fact that I was called by the phone center on the first day donations were being accepted. I didn’t even have class that day and wouldn’t have been able to make a donation even if I had wanted to since I worked all day. In the past week I have been called four times even though I told the phone center that I would be making my donation on campus when I had time. They have been a little too pushy. I was also a little less than pleased that our “Senior Dinner” was held in the caf. I didn’t attend, so maybe it was better than I imagined, but I wasn’t impressed by the choice of location, a picnic would have been a better choice.
With regards to having no knowledge of a vote for the committee membership, have you heard of the USG elections? The senior class council, which automatically consists of the Senior Class President and two class Senators, are voted on by the Senior class during the spring of Junior year and they’re some of the students that work on the Senior class gift. Other committee membership that may occur is not voted on (you are correct) as far as I understand. I believe anyone interested in joining the committee is allowed to do so, thus allowing involvement of any seniors without being restricted to being elected —- it doesn’t seem that it would be in line with your concept of “everyone having a say” if only a certain number of students could sit on the committee and all students must be elected.
To those of you who were interested in helping with the senior class gift but only received the December 11 email, why didn’t you follow up? Although it would obviously have been appropriate to receive more information, if your desire is strong enough to join the committee then you could have always emailed Thomas — he is your class president and you have the right to ask questions and discuss senior class events, however you maybe ought to have considered taking an active role.
Also, when it comes to complaining to the phone center callers about the senior class gift, you’re wasting their and your time while making your fellow students’ lives more difficult. I’ve worked at the phone center and there was nothing we could do when a caller complained about donating except click “Next call.” The phone center callers are there to call potentially donating students – they are doing a not very enjoyable job in order to earn money. Making their lives difficult by complaining to them when they have no say or outlet to take your concerns further is a waste. Please remember when talking to these students that they are people you have class with or see in the quad, and that they are not the ones who chose the senior gift just by being a phone center caller.
One more thing, when it comes to comparing VISION to other clubs, there is a distinct difference you ought to consider. VISION is an on-campus organization that is not funded like the non-exclusive clubs that you are probably thinking of (such as Rock Climbing Club, Chemistry Club, etc.). These clubs are funded by your student activity fee and allocations are based on the number of active members — have more members, get more funding.
Ali,
Yes, of course I have heard of USG elections. I was not aware that the Senior class council had any say in where our senior gift goes. It looks like you are correct that anyone interested in joining the council could have, however it was never made clear to me that this council had any involvement with the gift. Throughout both semesters I have received only 2 e-mails from the class president. One was dated 4/11/10 and the other 10/20/09. This is how I was able to see what the senior class council is all about. From the 10/20 e-mail, “I would like to extend an invitation to anybody in the senior class to be on a Senior Class Council I’d like to set up for this year. This group would help in thinking of/planning potential events to put on for the senior class, as well as helping with the senior riverboat cruise and senior class dinner that are both held in the spring.” You will notice that this does not say anything about the senior gift. I am disappointed with the lack of communication regarding any of the senior-specific events held throughout the year. It seems like the class president should be contacting us more than twice.
Had it been made clear in the 10/29 e-mail that the senior class council would be choosing the designation for the senior gift, I would have most definately taken an active role.
Now with regard to your comments on the phone center. I also worked at the phone center for my first three semesters here, so please do not assume that I am totally ignorant to the fundraising process that happens at St. Thomas. I don’t know when you worked there, but in 2007 a new calling software was brought in that allowed callers to type up specific comments and reasons as to why a gift was not made. I assume that this same software is in use in the phone center.
When I worked there we were encouraged to talk with the potential donors to see why they are not making a gift. Their comments were recorded and sent to the appropriate department through the development office. It only makes sense to figure out why individuals are refusing to make a gift. If it is something that the university can correct, then of course they should know about it! And it’s not about making the callers “lives more difficult.” You’re right, it is a tough job, but they still CHOOSE to do it, and recording “complaints” or reasons that donors are not giving is a huge part of that job.
Seniors,
I’d like to thank you for expressing your thoughts on the Senior Class Gift this year. I’d also like to let you know on how we operated the Senior Class Gift process this year.
The longstanding tradition of leaving a legacy through a Senior Class Gift has given students the opportunity to give back to the university, if they so choose. The gifts have ranged widely from outdoor play equipment for the Child Development Center to financial aid funds to the John Ireland statue that has kept watch over us for many years.
Students, now more than ever, need financial aid funds to support their education. It is such a hardship to spend additional funds to support things such as VISION trips, but the spiritual and personal growth received is invaluable. We felt it was a unique opportunity to support this endeavor specifically because it speaks to the quality of the student experience at St. Thomas.
I know some of you have mentioned how you don’t know how the Senior Class Gift committee was set up, that there was a lack of student input in the decision. We’d like you to know we did run a few Bulletin articles last fall, inviting all seniors to participate in the Senior Class Gift committee, as in years past, like this example: http://www.stthomas.edu/bulletin/2009/12/07/senior-class-gift/. Through this process, we received a good amount of students interested in being on the committee. It’s typically been the committee’s responsibility to identify an area of need. Everybody on the committee brought a range of ideas for the Senior Class Gift, all worthy options, but money for VISION scholarships we felt was the right gift to give at this time. Opening up the gift idea process to over a thousand students, at this point, isn’t practical.
Choosing not to support the Senior Class Gift is certainly your option, but it’s a wonderful statement of unity to come together around this scholarship and present our gift at graduation.
In the future we’ll make an even better effort to solicit for participation, but we’d like you to know that all seniors are still invited to attend our committee meetings. The next one is on May 4, and they are usually held in MHC 152, at 9:15pm at night. We would love to have your input on how to improve the process.
If you have any more questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me; I’d be more than happy to respond to your emails. My email is: taengrav@stthomas.edu. My job as Senior Class President is to listen to your questions or concerns, and to respond to them appropriately. I’m here to serve the Senior Class, and by speaking to me directly, you have the best chance of being heard.
Thank you again for voicing your opinions, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks!
Anyone who is concerned, I would like to write in support of everything Thomas has stated above. This year, I am part of the Senior Class Gift Committee because of the information I received via email, and the communication efforts made through the Bulletin. Like Ali said, the committee was not voted on. There were absolutely no restrcitions on joining; everyone who took the initiative in joining was accepted into this process. Students who showed interest in joining received emails, and together, were able to bring senior gift ideas together and vote. If you initially received emails but later did not, a honest mistake could have been made, but a more active role should have been taken to find out why. A simple email to Thomas would have cleared everything up, and you would have been added to the committee. I have emailed Thomas more times than I can remember with questions or concerns – sometimes even silly concerns – and he has always responded promptly with an answer. There were many chances to get involved, and the seniors who chose to become part of the committee were all a part of the Senior Class Gift process.
Every year, the senior gift is designated to something specific, and I am very proud of what our gift is supporting. VISION is a wonderful program that enables many St. Thomas students to lend a helping hand to others. Now, with a scholarship, more students will have the opportunity to be part of the VISION experience who otherwise would not have. A contribution to the senior gift would not only support our fellow Tommies, but also help our University positively influence other communities. If you are angry with the process, you should not punish the people we are working to support.
I am also a part of the St. Thomas Phone Center, and every caller here is working to better the St. Thomas community. In regards to the Senior Class Gift, since participation is the focus this year, the Phone Center attemps to do a follow up with any student who says they would like to get involved in order to keep our records and participation percentage updated and accurate. We also welcome feedback students and alumni may have.
I hope this does not turn any student away from participating and supporting our St. Thomas community. We have already received a lot of participation from our senior class, and I would like to thank you for that. This is our last opportunity, as a class, to come together and do something great. We should do our best to show our support for our University and fellow students. We our very close to reaching our goal…Let’s keep that kind of positivity going so we can be successful together :)
McCall Miller makes a bunch of very valid points :)
Too little, too late Tom. The small group of students that decided the idea could have sent an email to the entire senior class to vote on one of five options. Also, there is great bias from just allowing a few students decide a gift for the class. I am very disappointed in USG and the senior class representatives for dropping the ball here, the homecoming dance, the spring fling dance, and by not allowing seniors who graduate a semester early because they worked their tails off to not attend the riverboat dance. Why penalize those who show initiative? Why not think outside the box a little more?
Great points John.
I agree with John.I think the most disappointing thing about being a senior this year was not having a homecoming or a spring dance. The Riverboat thing for seniors who graduated early is also absurd. But, that’s for another time. While the VISION trip serves a purpose, I believe that there are more pressing needs on campus that would be more worthwhile to donate to. If I were given an option to choose where my contribution was going, then I would be much more inclined to participate in the senior gift program.
Oh yes, John, it is definitely all USG’s fault… no homecoming dance, no spring fling, the fact that seniors can’t go to riverboat. Oh wait, USG does not do dances, that would be STAR, and STAR worked very hard to find a way to have a dance on campus this year even without the gyms. It seems to me John that you have issues with university policies and are taking out your frustration on student based groups. The students involved in USG and STAR want these things such as dances just as badly as you do (arguably more since they volunteered their time and energies to make things like this happen on campus). I agree with you, why penalize those who show iniative…like the members of USG and STAR.
Thanks for doing your research John!
My mistake, I forgot to throw STAR into the mix. When people sign up to perform jobs results are demanded. When satisfactory results aren’t achieved, generally people lose their jobs or should be willing to take criticism. Obviously our leaders are unwilling to admit their failures and accept responsibility. I know this article specifically addresses the senior gift problem, but there are other areas in which those who apparently show initiative according to Motz have failed. Trying is not good enough in this case, especially when people in STAR are paid. They should be held accountable for their failures and apologize to the student body that they were so eager to serve. This isn’t first grade any more where participants receive trophies, this is the real world, where only the winners should receive credit.
Sure, John. Once again, I agree. When people sign up for jobs, satisfactory results are expected. However, you are poorly informed. As I pointed out in my first common, university policies are in place preventing these things you list. Policies do not allow your former classmates on riverboat because alcohol is being served. Are you expecting that student organizations are to change university policy that is probably in place for a very good reason? Policy is put into place for reason. Additionally, if these students planning riverboat thought “let’s not serve alcohol” so that all could attend, I can only image the uproar of complaints that would be posted on TommieMedia instead of addressed to people who know answers. Speaking of dances, among other things- space and bathrooms are both required. If you have a brilliant idea, which I’m sure you believe you do, suggest it. Get involved instead of complaining. When have students ever asked for trophies? The efforts of STAR go noticed by few and are complained about by most because it is not to personal standards. You say our student leaders are not doing a satisfactory job? Great idea… let’s ignore all of their successes and all of the good they do on campus; then yes, their job is only satisfactory.