Photo: Graphic Illustration by Amy Wecker and Cristina Doi
In less than a decade, the number of students giving to the NU senior class gift has increased four fold, from 14 percent of the class of 2004 to 60 percent last year. And while you may walk around campus and see benches or mini-arches with the words “gift of the class of” emblazoned on them, Mitch Neubert, associate director of young alumni and reunion programs, says the emphasis is not to give to a single big-ticket item. Instead, the senior class gift committee encourages students to give $20.11 (an ode to graduating in ’11—clever, right?) to an organization, student group, or department that they feel most connected to. Still, Neubert says the majority of students chose to donate to Northwestern or their respective school of study. With all that unrestricted cash on hand, we have some ideas of how the university could best use the money after the jump.
1. Marble Statue of Morty: Our favorite campus prez has achieved fame of mythic proportions. And any mythic hero deserves his own statue. And not a limestone one. We want marble.
2. Sledding Hill: Northwestern is good enough at creating huge piles of dirt that we might as well make use of them. Since winter lasts from Halloween to Easter anyway, why not change the drab Illinois topography a little? Plus, it’s more fun to sled drunk than to ice skate drunk (although, not necessarily less dangerous.)
3. Hot Air Balloon: When we think of a useless gift that costs a lot of money, hot air balloons always comes to mind. Then the admissions office could provide birds-eye-view tours of the campus. Snazzy.
4. On-campus spa: College is stressful. And college on the quarter system is even more stressful. Plus, telling people you have a massage and facial scheduled in between class just sounds oh-so posh.
5. An arch over the arch: We’re all so philosophical here, so why not create a meta arch? A larger metaphor for the school or just another piece of expensive art? We’ll never tell.
6. More CAPS counselors: Whoa there, we just got all serious. But if you’re not going to give us a spa, you could at least hire more people who we could talk to about our never-ending problems.
7. Sod: Okay, why does facilities management always insist on spraying grass from a hose on our muddied ground? Do they think it will actually grow? Sure sod is probably not environmentally friendly, but it’s pretty and a quick fix. And don’t we all want to keep the campus looking pristine and pastoral for those discerning prospies?
