UNC senior class slow to donate supplies

Since Monday, senior class representatives have been sitting in the Pit from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. collecting school supply donations for a local high school.

The event was advertised on Twitter, Facebook and via e-mail, but as of 2 p.m. Tuesday, only one senior had donated supplies. The event ends Friday.

“It is a good idea but no one really knows about it,” Senior Class Marshal Cara English said. “We need to figure out a way to get the word out to seniors.”

Senior classes are often remembered after graduation by their donations. This year, the class of 2011 plans on doing something different.

“Our goal is to have one service project per month for seniors,” English said.

September’s service project is a school supply drive for East Chapel Hill High School.

Senior Class Vice President Justin Tyler said ECHHS requires binders, index cards, scientific calculators and binder dividers.

Bolu Adeyeye, senior service committee co-chair, said that the Senior Marshals have made a monetary donation to the cause.

Tyler said the committee wanted to reach out to high schools since there have not been a lot of supply drives on campus in the past.

He said ECHHS was chosen as the recipient of the donations since it was one of the first local high schools to accept help.

Tyler said the project was as much to increase senior involvement on campus as to gather supplies.

“If a senior has not participated in any activity in four years, do it now. Leave your mark,” he said.

Officials from ECHHS said they welcomed any supplies that the seniors could collect.

Brenda McNeely-Allen, a social worker at ECHHS, said that every year students, teachers and parents come with frequent requests for supplies.

Assistant Principal Kylon Middleton also said the drive would be helpful.

“Based on demographics, we have a high population of students that cannot afford (supplies), even though we have many that can.”

Senior Jessica Wilson said Tuesday morning that she had not heard about the collection.

“I’m not on the Facebook (group) and I don’t have a Twitter,” Wilson said. “When I read the e-mails, I’m not really thorough.”

Wilson said that she might donate supplies now that she knows about the collection.

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.