Today I am angry with Phil the Pig.
For those of you who don’t know Phil, allow me to explain. Phil the Pig is a newly introduced mascot on campus whose mission is to promote school philanthropy amongst students. With Phil comes a herd of green piggy bank minions which students are asked to fill up with their pocket change and then donate back to the school for the purpose of funding student organizations and events.
Now, of course I have no problem with philanthropic efforts, but to outright ask students to donate to Southeastern is a slap in the face considering many of us are tens of thousands of dollars in debt just for attending Southeastern. Not only that, but tuition is constantly increasing each semester and adding more weight to the burden of student loans that we have to bear.
According to a recent study conducted by the Federal Reserve Board, the average amount of student loan debt collected by college students has steadily increased in the past few decades, and continues to rise. The average student loan debt that students faced in 1980 was approximately $8,756, which seems miniscule compared to the $24,301 the average student in 2012 must pay back upon graduation.
Judging from these statistics, does it really seem that college students are in a position to become philanthropists? It’s as if our massive amount of student loans is not enough; now we have to sacrifice dollar menu delicacies so that Southeastern can take our pocket change as well.
If I ever decided to save up my change in a piggy bank, it would be in a desperate attempt to get out of the growing amount of debt I am in, or perhaps an attempt at altruism to donate to my favorite nonprofit organization. I most definitely would not, however, choose to shell out even more money to a state-funded institution.
If an enormous institution that receives millions of dollars in tuition as well as government funding each year can manage to receive donations from poor college students, I may as well leave a box outside my dorm with a sign that says ‘Please donate to the Melanie Is A Poor College Student Fund.’
I understand the motive behind this Phil the Pig is not malicious. After all, the funds are supposed to be invested in the students. But it’s like taking a sandwich from a homeless person and donating it to a soup kitchen. It’s completely counterintuitive.
If Southeastern really wants to help its students, asking them for money is not the way to go. Ask for donations from well-to-do alumni. Get local businesses to sponsor student events. But don’t ask for donations from already financially drained college kids in the name of helping said students.