Senior Josh Akman, a Hatchet columnist, explains why he will be giving to charity rather than GW’s Senior Class Gift.
This morning I read about the senior class gift online. According to the Web site, “the Senior Class Gift, a tradition at GW since the 1980s, is a way for each class to leave an imprint on the University.” It says I can leave my “imprint” on the Annual Fund, the Smith Center, the Student Aid Initiative, the Science and Engineering Complex or the Colonial Community. Instinctively, my thoughts turned to that girl. I live in the building under which she sleeps, and I’m supposed to give to the library? I don’t think so.
This morning I was saddened to see this column, not because Josh criticized the campaign I’m coordinating, but sad because of the story he told about the encounter with the homeless woman, and sad because he can’t see how through giving to the Senior Class Gift Campaign, you can give to charitable and service organizations, and make a huge impact in our community.
Many of us came to GW because of its relationship with the city. And, many of us were shocked when we got here by the prevalence of homelessness, poverty and crime that exist just blocks from campus, and sadly, sometimes ON campus. Instead of confining ourselves to our rooms and ignoring the issues in our own backyard, GW students take action everyday to help better the city GW calls home. One of the defining characteristics that makes me so proud to call myself a GW student is our collective commitment to service. In our years here, we’ve participated in programs like Freshman Day of Service, Jumpstart, Heads Up, MLK Day of Service, service sororities and fraternities, Kidsfest (just this past Saturday), and took advantage of tons of other opportunities to get out into the city and make a difference. The Senior Class Gift is just one more way that we can support these initiatives and help GW students have the opportunities to affect change in our DC and global community.
When you give to the Senior Class Gift, you have the power to direct your gift to any part of the university you desire, so please give to what makes a difference.
Give to OCS to help secure financial resources to continue supporting service opportunities for GW students.
Give to SAC so that students can have the resources to create student organizations based in community service.
Give to your Greek chapter to help support its community philanthropy.
Give your school to support work in the classrooms, giving GW students the skills to go out in the world and make it a better place.
All gifts given by seniors will be matched, dollar for dollar, by the Luther Rice Society Advisory Council alumni, and those match dollars will create the Class of 2010 Gelman Library Fund.
By giving to the programs that fight to fix the social issues in our city, nation, and world, and supporting the students who will soon become the leaders in these causes, you can provide community change and support GW at the same time. The “real senior class gift” is what YOU make it.
- Kelley Stokes, 2010 Senior Class Gift Coordinator