Imagine what the Penn State campus would be like without the HUB-Robeson Center Aquariums, the Extended Hours ReaDING Room in the Pattee Library or even the Nittany Lion Shrine.
These senior class gifts have shaped the University Park campus, and the class of 2013 now has its chance to do the same.
Gift proposal emails were sent out weeks ago to any student who will graduate in May, August or December of 2013. The form consists of what type of gift, a description of the gift, and where on campus it could be implemented.
Both Gift Development Chair Sophia Perri and Student Relations Chair Logan Cawley said that there is a common theme with this year’s proposals: memorials for child abuse and Joe Paterno.
Perri said that about 90 percent of the proposals they have received thus far have dealt with one of the themes.
Asaf Gans (senior-biology) proposed a bronze Paterno statue, similar to, if not exactly the same, as the one taken down. He believes that the original was taken down unfairly.
Part of Perri’s job as the Gift Development Chair is to “weed out the slides coming out of Willard” and “rock walls out of the HUB” and find realistic ideas that can be implemented either on the campus or as a scholarship.
She explained that she and the rest of the Senior Class Gift committee will choose roughly 20 ideas and present them to a “ballot selection committee” made up of professors, administrators and Office of Physical Plant members. From there, the selection committee narrows it down even more.
At the next meeting the list is narrowed down to what OPP says is possible. From there, three ideas are chosen and the senior class votes for its favorite idea.
Perri (senior-broadcast journalism) said the money for the gift comes from a deposit everyone puts down freshman year. This $100 general deposit can go toward medical bills, if a student breaks anything on campus, or even printing charges.
Whatever is left of that money can be donated to the class gift or where ever the student wants, whether it’s a club or college. The student could also just keep the money.
For Perri, the most inspiring aspect of the senior class gift is that seniors “can come back one day and show their kids what they gave to the university.”
Cawley wants to see seniors submit ideas and donate to the gift.
“Yes, they’ve spent a lot of money,” Cawley said. “But Penn State has given more than we’ve given it.”
Cawley’s job is to go to different clubs and organizations and convince them to donate to the gift and in the process “help people find their love for Penn State.”
He explained that the gift can take the form of a scholarship, and since the senior class has loved its four years at Penn State, it can now give the opportunity for someone to come here that couldn’t otherwise.
The last day for proposal submissions is Sept. 14. Cawley said it is important for students to have an input in their senior class gift.
“Give to Penn State. At least give to what has affected you,” Cawley said.
