When an alumni couple donated $5 million to the Penn State football program last December -- the largest donation ever made to intercollegiate athletics -- it was clear where most graduates' priorities were concentrated.
While it's certainly fine for a donor to choose where his or her money goes, it was disappointing to see so much money go toward such a well-funded and high profile campus group. Sure, the football program is wonderful, but so many other groups need funding and scholarships often go unnoticed.
So when Bruce Miller and Dean LaVigne announced a Trustee Scholarship during this year's Pride Week, aimed at students active in the LGBT community, it was a breath of fresh air. It was proof that these students' activism had drawn attention from two alumni who truly wanted to foster equality on campus.
In accordance with the gift's designation as a trustee scholarship, Penn State will donate 5 percent of the donation's total value, which has not yet been disclosed, to further the goals espoused by Pride Week and its participants.
But this is just the university following the rules, not going above and beyond to support diversity issues. If the university deserves credit, it stands to reason that it deserves no more than 5 percent.
While Penn State has launched numerous campaigns to promote diverse ideals, minority students have said they still feel uncomfortable on campus. Such a large university knows all too well that money talks -- so why can't Penn State take a page out of Miller and LaVigne's book and allocate more resources toward scholarships that support diversity activists?
It wouldn't be the same as supporting controversial affirmative action policies, because the funds would not simply go to minorities, but people working to improve tolerance on campus.
After all, even though these activists don't ask for anything in return, shouldn't they be rewarded for helping to improve others' lives?
The scholarship and the university's support, however meager, are clearly a step in the right direction. Now the question is whether we value diversity enough to continue down the same road.
