THE PENDULUM

A weekday walk through Moseley Center is interrupted by students at tables asking for money in exchange for cupcakes, bracelets or even just a "thank you." A weekend morning job is disrupted by the sight of dozens of students packaging meals for the underprivileged. Or an entire 24-hour span in spent in Alumni Gym, celebrating the lives of children.

All of these are examples of philanthropy at Elon University, or the giving of money and material goods, according to Mary Morrison, director of the Kernoodle Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement. Philanthropy is one of the practices the university is committed to fostering in its students as part of the Elon Commitment.

Morrison said the need for philanthropic activities has been on the rise during the past few years in the local community.

"The Alamance County nonprofits are really having a hard time meeting their profit growth," she said.

Morrison also said she thinks there is a greater push nationwide for students to participate in philanthropy, since needs are increasing while available money seems to be decreasing.

"People who never sought assistance before now seek it," she said, citing the financial downturn of 2008 as a tipping point for need, although not a launch point for philanthropic giving, especially at Elon.

"Elon students have been traditionally very generous," she said.
Shana Plasters, director of Greek Life, said Elon has a "Foundations of Excellence" program to encourage giving back to the community.

To remain in good standing, organizations must be involved in some sort of giving.

"All of our organizations have service and philanthropy as core values in their organization," she said.

According to the most recent "Service @ Elon" report, in the 2009-2010 school year, Greek organizations on campus donated $45,681 to various charitable causes, but Morrison said she suspects this number is a lot larger, as not all Greek organizations reported their total amounts.

Various groups outside of Greek Life also contribute financially. During this year's Homecoming weekend, a joint effort by Resident Student Association, Student Union Board and Elon Volunteers raised $6,250 to package meals for "Stop Hunger Now," an organization that aims to provide protein-packed, nutritious meals to disaster victims and impoverished people around the world. In less than two hours, students from across campus were able to package 25,000 meals.

But despite the good students are able to do in the community through philanthropic activities, Morrison said there are concerns about its constant presence on campus.

"I worry sometimes that there is fatigue over being asked for donations and contributions," she said.

Some students share that sentiment, like one student who walked past multiple Moseley tables asking for donations.

"It makes me feel bad but then, it's my money," he said. "I feel like when I walk by, it's like being heckled."

But for those students who are comfortable with it, contributing to philanthropic drives can be a way for students to be involved "indirectly," according to Morrison.

"You're making contributions to organizations where you can't go and do the work directly," she said.

Sophomore Hope Williams is involved with Pi Sigma Epsilon, the marketing and management fraternity, which doesn't choose a single group to give to, but donates to multiple causes.
"I think donating money is a good cause and I like helping others," she said, although she also added that she has concerns about the way some charities handle their money.

But for junior Kristen Marcickiewicz, a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, philanthropy is a way to be active on campus and engage in service learning. ZTA's cause is breast cancer education and awareness.

"I feel like we get a lot of support from the outside community as well," she said.