Letters to the Editor

10/21/10 7:00pm

To the Editor:I was disappointed to read Falan Mouton's opinion piece ("Rice just a business; donations are purely optional for graduates," Oct. 8) on alumni donations. While she and her parents no doubt worked hard to pay for her education, not everyone can afford to pay for college on their own. My mother's income was not enough to cover the cost and so I was fortunate to receive need-based scholarships, which are mostly funded by donations. Some believe, as Mouton does, that with Rice's sizeable endowment, an individual's donation does not make a difference. If we all thought that, students who cannot afford to pay the full tuition would miss out. I now work as a fundraiser for a small nonprofit organization and I have a quote by John D. Rockefeller Jr. posted in my office that says, "Never think you need to apologize for asking someone to give to a worthy object any more than as though you were giving him an opportunity to participate in a high grade investment." When Rice asks us for a donation, they are not asking for a handout or because they think you owe them. They are asking you to invest in the current students and many of us have benefited from that. To me, my education was not a mere product that was purchased. It was an experience that has shaped my career, my relationships, and my life. I am grateful for those who contributed to my Rice experience and I donate because I want others to have the same opportunities.

Cielo Contreras

Jones '05

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To the Editor:

After reading Falan Mouton's article laying out her rationale for not donating to Rice ("Rice just a business; donations are purely optional for graduates," Oct. 8), I was tempted to write a response pointing out flaws in her logic - e.g., contending that the Rice "product" ceases creating value for its "consumers" the moment they graduate - and her apparent misunderstanding of how businesses work - e.g., most businesses with the aim of having "no upper limit" will need to raise capital too.

Instead, though, I would rather focus my words on why I do donate to my alma mater: because I love Rice. I loved Rice as an undergrad. I loved Rice as a grad student. And I have really loved Rice as an alum. The cost of educating one undergrad is roughly twice what Rice takes in as tuition. Rice isn't just trying to meet its costs, though; it has grand ambitions to be better each year, but such ambitions aren't realized for free. When I donate to Rice I know my money will make a positive difference for the entire Rice community.

I'm not selfless either; some of those funds come back to me directly via alumni activities. The Association of Rice Alumni is a great network of interesting, diverse, successful alumni and, unlike at our peer institutions, there is no fee to join and there never will be.

In the nine years since I've graduated, I've learned that you get out of Rice what you put into it. So donate time if you can. Donate money if you can. But don't do it because you think you "owe" it to anyone. Do it because you love Rice.

Bryan Guido Hassin

Lovett '01

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