LETTER: Mugar improvements a good use of senior gift

In this week’s Spotlight article, “The $20.08 Mission,” the admirably ambitious goal of raising $100,000 from Boston University’s Senior Class of 2008 is explained in great detail (Sept. 26, p. 5). We are informed that a Class Gift Committee consisting of nearly 100 seniors is at work on this cause. We are informed by the committee’s co-chair, Elena Quattrone, that this body is the first of its kind to have students asking other students “to become active alums.” We are even informed of the benefits of contributing more than the requested amount of $20.08: a dinner hosted by President Robert Brown or even admission into an exclusive “giving society,” depending on how much one contributes.

But there is one crucial bit of information missing from the article and perhaps even the committee’s attention: It is never detailed exactly what the committee intends to do with this would-be unprecedented senior class gift. The article states, “before 2002, each class bought a tangible gift to be donated to the university . . . since then, students have had the option of donating money to specific departments, programs or student groups.” The focus then returns to how this year’s committee is raising the stakes by setting a goal more than $30,000 higher than the total donated by the Class of 2007.

While I think aiming to raise more money is perfectly honest and based in good intentions, it is simply not enough. Raising more money for BU is an excellent symbolic way to show gratitude to this worthy institution, but what’s more important is to put these valuable funds to a valuable use. We must not be wishy-washy about the intentions of this fundraising mission if we intend to make an impact on the university and inspire the Class of 2008 to open its hearts, minds and wallets with such a generous gift.

Quattrone said, “BU doesn’t really have room and doesn’t need a clock in Kenmore Square. The best thing to do is donate back to departments or something else that gave a lot to you.” I disagree. Certainly a clock in Kenmore Square would be a waste of a sum as great as $100,000, but at a university that has expanded with the recent construction of several major projects, including the Photonics Center, Agganis Arena, the Fitness and Recreation and the ongoing building at the Student Village, there is still plenty of work to be done to improve campus life. For just one example, look no further than our outdated Mugar Memorial Library, which was constructed and furnished for a different age of academic studies. Mugar is located in the heart of our campus, yet students routinely choose to study in other libraries because Mugar is hindered by poor lighting, a severe lack of electrical outlets (a problem that should have been addressed a decade ago) and desks, tables and chairs that are not conducive to long periods of study.

Certainly the Class of 2008 alone cannot solve all of the problems related to Mugar or other neglected spaces on our campus, but if provided with as much as the committee is asking for, this class can put into action the kind of work that can visibly improve the university for generations of students to come.

Matthew Moran

CAS ’08