Legacy. This is the immediate word that springs to my mind whenever anyone mentions the Senior gift. It is a way for the graduating class to leave a mark on the college in which they spent so much time, money, and effort while also paying it forward to future students. The idea of a Senior Gift was first envisioned as a way for the graduating class to pay it forward and support future students. There are many examples on our beloved campus of Senior gifts, from scholarship endowments to renovations to the Townhouses and Snyder lounges to expanding the Grotto and funding the Presidential Franciscan mission fund. All of these are worthy causes that move forward the college mission and support the next generation of Siena saints financially or through improved capital investment, making living and working on campus a more enjoyable experience. Yet, for some reason, when it came to deciding the Senior gift for the class of 2024, this altruism went awry and was replaced by a blatant money grab by the institution where we had spent the past four years and were lectured so much about Franciscan values and giving back.
I was shocked when, during the Senior class meeting, it was announced that the class of 2024 senior gift would be just a block donation to Siena’s Annual fund. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Siena Annual Fund, it is a blanket slush fund that covers budget shortfalls not covered by tuition and housing payments. There were no options, choices, debate, input, or even a simple up-down yes or no vote; it was going to the annual fund, and that was that—some legacy for the class of 2024. Even worse, they expected us to get together and fundraise for it, donate our hard-earned money, and sell the idea to the rest of our Senior class. Our reward for this unmitigated generosity is that if you donate $125+, you will become a gold dome donor with free entry to all Senior gift events and recognition on the social stairs in Nobel Hall with a QR code. Apparently, the Class of 2024 doesn’t even rank the smallest of plaques like all the other classes have gotten. Why can’t we have some say in the legacy we leave behind here at Siena and some tangible proof that we passed through these hallowed halls other than mildewing pages in a yearbook on some long-forgotten library shelf?
To me, this entire affair coordinated by the Siena administration is in poor taste. Not only are we allowed no input on the senior gift, but we are expected to fork over a not-insubstantial amount of money to fund a “legacy” of which we will be unable to see the direct impact of the money we donate. I’m instantly suspicious of donating money to large indiscriminate slush funds, which more resemble giant black holes for money than the thoughtful and considerate donations that provide some tangible benefit to the student body and would serve as a worthwhile legacy of the class of 2024, a class that has endured many unique challenges.
Join me and others in saying Not One Penny Ever (NOPE) to the Senior gift until the Annual Fund is removed and we are given an actual voice in the what and how of our legacy. NOPE to fundraising, NOPE to QR code memorials, and NOPE to the Annual Fund.