There is no question that the University of Wisconsin—Madison is at a pivotal point in its history. Unless private funding is found, decreasing state funding and rising operational costs will inevitably push the university toward a point where it will have to choose between drastically reducing services or increasing tuition beyond ""affordable levels."" Given that reality, many groups have begun implementing well-intended, inventive financial campaigns to raise money.
The Wisconsin School of Business's (WSOB) officially promoted but student-run ""Make a Statement"" campaign is such a campaign. However, I believe that this campaign, which has the goal of promoting undergraduate financial donations upon graduation, has crossed the line from inventive to inappropriate by injecting itself into the spring 2009 graduation ceremony by providing anyone who donates over $20 with a ""giving cord"" to be worn at the graduation ceremony. These ""giving cords"" and their place at graduation are inappropriate for at least two reasons.
First, the use of the ""giving cords"" at graduation is inappropriate because it uses a traditionally academic medium (honor cords) to recognize financial donations at graduation, an event which is supposed to be centered on the recognition of academic achievement. It is understandable that the campaign wishes to publicly recognize its donors, but by mixing its fundraising efforts with an academic ceremony in which cords typically represent academic achievement, the campaign is effectively stating that these purchased cords rise to the level of academic honor cords. The use of such commercial honor cords is contrary to the historical academic use of honor cords, and diminishes the achievements of those students who have worked hard to earn academic honor cords.
Second, the use of the ""giving cords"" at graduation is inappropriate because those who have chosen not to participate in the campaign for whatever reason, whether financial or philosophical, should not be made to look ungrateful or cheap on their own graduation day. Financial contribution awards ceremonies should be kept separate from academic graduation ceremonies. By mixing the two and by use of the ""giving cord,"" the campaign is either intentionally or unintentionally introducing an apparent shame factor at graduation for those who chose not to participate in the campaign, but who otherwise want to participate in graduation. Every graduating student has worked hard for their day, and they should be able to enjoy it without the fear that they will look cheap or ungrateful if they have not chosen to buy a ""giving cord"" or are unable to donate.
The ""Make a Statement"" campaign has a commendable goal and should be free to publicly recognize its donors, but the campaign should not be allowed to do so at graduation, an event that was designed for the recognition of academics.
I will donate to the ""Make a Statement"" campaign because I want to see UW-Madison remain a strong academic institution. However, at graduation, the only cords around my neck will be those which I earned academically not those that I purchased with a check.
—Benjamin Trachtenberg
Wisconsin School of Business May 2009 Graduate
