While the Senior Class Gift drives at Harvard, Yale and Princeton universities boast student participation levels of roughly 80 percent, Penn has yet to break the 50 percent mark.
This year, the University intends to change this trend.
As part of its efforts, Penn hosted the first-ever fall Senior Class Gift Drive BBQ on Saturday afternoon in Annenberg Plaza, where roughly 1,100 seniors gathered.
The event, coordinated by the undergraduate alumni fundraising office Penn Fund, in cooperation with the President's Office, was moved this year from its traditional spring date to increase awareness of the Gift Drive and to enhance student participation in fundraising.
"It is not how much you give," stressed University President Judith Rodin. "Just that you give."
And this year, organizers want students to be aware of the gift drive earlier.
"We have historically had low participation in our senior gift drive because we start the education process too late," Penn Fund Assistant Director Elise Betz said.
This year's drive coordinators, Penn Fund and three Senior Class Gift chairpeople, hope to achieve record goals: 50 percent student participation and $40,000. Donated funds will support the Class of 2003 Terrace -- a sitting area to be located at 36th Street and Locust Walk.
The BBQ, which lasted two hours, featured free BBQ sandwiches and fried Oreos from Fat Jack's and live ambient music by Big Breakfast. The event also featured a short speech from Rodin, as well as talks from Senior Gift Chairpeople Joe Mangini and Nikki Cyter, a Penn Band performance and a student raffle, with prizes including autographed sports memorabilia, DVD gift baskets and Penn gear.
Guests were invited to join a currently-forming Senior Gift Drive committee to coordinate future fundraising events.
"I got the e-mail and wanted to see what they presented," College senior Alex Quistberg said. "I feel like I should give something back."
Gift Drive organizers deemed the BBQ a success, crediting a higher-than-expected turnout. However, some students expressed skepticism of the event.
"I expected everything they were going to say," said Engineering senior Jason Friess. "Every year it's the same thing...."
Most students at least found the event enjoyable.
"I liked the band and the free food,"said College senior Brian Lebersfeld. "I imagine I will not be highly involved...."
Mangini said he certainly found the event he helped plan exciting.
"I got to eat fried Oreos with Judith Rodin," he said. "It was amazing."
