Just Say No to Senior Gift

Like the patches of green grass appearing from beneath the melting slush, business suit-clad seniors are popping up all over campus. While their schedules may be composed solely of classes that start after 1 p.m., their minds are on the nine-to-five schedule that they'll be following in a few short months. Accompanying that focus on the future is the College's annual Senior Gift. Amidst the promises of ritzy New York cocktail parties and bonuses for the House that gets the most donations, the true purpose of the Senior Gift is easily obscured. Giving back to Harvard, a place that we all have undoubtedly benefited from, is a worthy ideal. However, the Senior Gift's failure to allow targeted donations and its emphasis on lavishly rewarding donors is misguided.

The Alternative Senior Gift, founded by Joshua A. Edelman '00 and Greg A. Novak '00, spotlights the faults inherent in the Senior Gift. Their program does not discourage seniors from giving to the Senior Gift, but offers an alternative for charitable contributions. Instead of giving to the already well-endowed College, seniors can donate to the charity of their choice. All the donations will be tallied and given to the philanthropic organizations in a lump sum, which would probably be more beneficial than a number of small donations. Giving seniors options for their charitable contributions is something sorely lacking from the Senior Gift.

The Senior Gift claims to be a way to express the senior class' collective gratitude for an enriching four years. Yet after expenses such as processing the donations, handing out free "Senior Gift 2000" yo-yos to all 1,600-plus seniors and throwing an open bar party at the Charles Hotel for its over 200 volunteers, the total amount donated to Harvard is minuscule. In the last decade, the average total Senior Gift (before expenses are accounted for) was $37,600. Compared to the $14 billion endowment, its impact on the College is minor.

The Senior Gift leaders said that one of the program's purposes is not just to raise money but also to accustom seniors (many who will be earning high sums in the future) to write checks to Harvard. While this is important in terms of the College's long-term fundraising strategy, its focus on rewarding donors while claiming to help the College is misleading. True philanthropy, whether toward Harvard or any other non-profit organization, should stem from an honest desire to donate time, resources or money. Luring donors through cocktail parties obscures the philanthropic goals of the Senior Gift, making the act of giving more about prestige and yo-yos than altruism and education.

One possible reform would be to allow targeted donations to specific Harvard departments or institutions. Making last year's Senior Gift specific to a scholarship fund was a good first step, but further student choice could be instituted. History concentrators could write a check to the department as a token of gratitude for stimulating tutorials. Students who enjoyed the exhibits in the Fogg Museum could express their thanks in the same way. Instead, the current Senior Gift lumps together all the donations and hands them over to the College, giving students no control over how their donations are used. Undoubtedly the money will be used to benefit future students and improve the College, but students may be less than gratified to learn their money went towards re-wallpapering the Core Office instead of decreasing class size.

So when the friendly Senior Gift volunteers come a-knocking, pause before you pull out your checkbook. Think about the countless other charities that would benefit from your $50 contribution. There are many ways to express your gratitude to Harvard. Donating to the Senior Gift is probably not the best one.

--Lorrayne S. Ward