The Daily Tar Heel
Printing news. Raising hell. Since 1893.
Thursday, March 28, 2024 Newsletters Latest print issue

We keep you informed.

Help us keep going. Donate Today.
The Daily Tar Heel

Students Respond to Class Gifts

The three choices for the class gift include an Unsung Founders monument, a marquee and a scholarship.

One possible gift is a freestanding monument -- named Unsung Founders of the University -- honoring men and women of color who helped raise some of the first buildings on campus.

A second option is a marquee for Memorial Hall that will be used to publicize and promote events.

The third possibility is a need-based scholarship for a senior who experiences a sudden and unforeseen financial difficulty.

Seniors will have a chance to vote on the options Oct. 9 and 10, either online at Student Central from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. or in Union 208 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Senior class officers plan to announce the gift shortly after voting is completed.

The ideas came from suggestions members of the Class of 2002 made during last year's student elections and from senior marshals, said Senior Class Vice President Ursula Dimmling.

Jason Holloway, a senior from Greenville, said he likes the Unsung Founders memorial and the scholarship ideas. But Holloway said he was not as excited about the marquee option. "I think (the marquee) is a bunch of crap," he said. "I'd rather see the money go to someone who needs it than to a sign in front of a building."

Michael Ashe, a senior from Littleton, also said he appreciates the idea of the Unsung Founders memorial. "I really like (the memorial)," he said. "I am a person of color as well."

Ashe said he also thinks the the scholarship would be beneficial. "There are times when students need help," he said.

But some students frowned on the founders memorial option.

Jennifer Bancroft, a senior from Asheville, said she thinks the meaning behind the Unsung Founders memorial is good but questioned the practicality of the gift. "It's wasteful -- there are better ways to spend the money than on another statue," she said.

Whatever option students choose, Dimmling said, she hopes this year's seniors participate more in the fund-raising efforts than last year's.

Fund raising will be done in conjunction with the Office of Development and will include a telethon and a chance for students to use their UNC ONE Cards to contribute, said Senior Marshal Reida Lawrence, who serves as gift committee chairwoman.

Lawrence said she hopes seniors will think a lot about the choices before they vote.

"A lot of hard work, thought and time went into thinking up (these options)," she said.

Dimmling said she believes all of these options would enhance the University.

"All three are just fabulous choices."

The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu.

To get the day's news and headlines in your inbox each morning, sign up for our email newsletters.

Special Print Edition
The Daily Tar Heel's Collaborative Mental Health Edition