Seniors given 4 choices for gift

The four possibilities for this year's senior class gift were revealed in an e-mail Tuesday night, and now class officials are giving students the chance to learn more about their options.

Students can choose among scholarships that would go to students completing service projects abroad; a campus beautification project; a memorial garden for the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks; and a TV station on which campus groups could advertise.

Seniors will cast their ballots Tuesday on Student Central to determine which of the four choices will serve as their legacy.

Class officers are showcasing the options from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. today in Polk Place.

After class officers solicited suggestions from the class of 2005, senior marshals narrowed the list to 10 feasible gifts and voted on the top four options.

David Ruskey, chief marshal of the senior class, said the choices are exceptional and that marshals have received a great response.

The Class of 2005 Travel/Service Scholarship, sponsored by the Campus Y, ideally would provide two scholarships of about $1,000 each to students interested in completing service projects outside the country.

The International Center, the Study Abroad Office, members of the class of 2005 and, in future years, past winners of the scholarship would choose the winners.

The Campus Y also is sponsoring the N.C. Arts Program. Senior Class Vice President Becca Frucht described the endeavor as a way to beautify campus and to "enrich the UNC community through showcasing arts and crafts ... produced by North Carolina artists."

If the option were selected, officials would create a committee to choose items, ideally two per year, that would be displayed around campus in highly visible areas.

A 9/11 Memorial Garden also will be on the ballot. Backers conceptualize the garden as a small seating area with a half-dozen benches to commemorate the six UNC alumni lost in the World Trade Center.

"We thought this gift would resonate with our class because we were freshmen when that happened," she said. "We'd only been here a few weeks."

The final choice the seniors will have is a student television station, run through the Student Union, that would allow campus organizations to advertise on 30- to 60-second spots running in a continuous cycle. The channel would be accessible in all campus buildings.

The class's contribution would pay for the installation of plasma TVs in the Student Union and for the start-up fees, including equipment, a control room, a multipurpose room and the salary of any paid workers.

While the gifts all are designed to enrich life at UNC, they also are dependent upon the money donated by seniors and other members of the UNC community.

Senior Class President Jovian Irvin said she is enthusiastic about the gifts and fund-raising efforts.

"We think they're really good selections and we're really excited to see what the students will choose," she said. "We encourage students to make sure to give as much as they can so (the gift) can fulfill all of its potential."

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.