2008 Woodie Awards
'Tis Better to Give than to Receive
Ethan Moore
Issue date: 4/14/06 Section: News
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"The senior gift this year is renovating the roundabout at the intersection of Washington, Winfield and Tyler on the northwest corner of campus. It has flowers right now, but we're thinking something more permanent," said Brad Howard, Senior Committee chair.
"We don't know exactly what yet, because they have to give us money to get it all together, but we're probably thinking some kind of elaborate bird fountain or some other kind of permanent decoration," he said.
Every year, the college requires incoming freshmen to make a two hundred dollar deposit to the school. This money is held in reserve in the event that the student is ever charged a fine for loss of a room key, vandalism, or any other such action. As seniors, students get to decided whether they want to withdraw that two hundred dollars and reclaim it or donate it to the senior gift fund. So far this year, eighty eight seniors have donated money.
"We won't actually get the money until the class graduates, as almost everyone is donating some portion of their security deposit, which is not released to our fund until after all accounts are cleared," said Amy Hillard, Senior Gift Committee chair
Some seniors are refusing to donate this year because of the lack of follow through that has occurred the past two years. Two years ago, the senior gift was supposed to be gold lettering, spelling out "Hendrix College", on the walking bridge over Harkrider. Last year's planned gift was a sand volleyball court near the new houses.
Senior Lennon Simpson said, "I didn't donate for several reasons, mainly because I've yet to see the college carry out a senior gift, and the senior gift ideas were pretty lame."
According to Howard, the gifts did not fit in with the plan of the college, which was an issue that was addressed during this year's decision process.
"[The roundabout renovation] is definitely feasible, and the administration is a go. What has happened in the past is that the senior gift that has been selected has not fit in with the master plan of the college." Howard said.