[880] in Discussion of MIT-community interests
Alumni Giving & Mandatory Dining
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Andy Ellis)
Thu Oct 4 10:56:40 2001
Message-ID: <jyheloja3g1.fsf@the-first-sign.kendall.akamai.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2001 10:24:14 -0400
Reply-To: ellisa@MIT.EDU
From: Andy Ellis <cordelia@AKAMAI.COM>
To: MIT-Talk@MIT.EDU
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President Vest,
Across the years, MIT has taken a number of actions that the
student body has found ... questionable. At times, students are able to
stand up and make their voices heard (by physically occupying the Dot,
for example). However, most of the time, the administration is able to
outwait students (Freshman on Campus), ignoring the vital input of those
who most directly understand the needs of the student body.
Today, another such battle rages on campus. The drive to
force mandatory dining onto the student body is nothing short of
ludicrous. While there may be handwaving around "community-building"
spouted by some members of the administration, it is very clear that the
true reason for this is the Corporation's bottom line. Fine.
2001 is the year that I, as an alumnus of the Institute, had
targeted for my first donation back to my alma mater. I spent my first
four years since graduation in the military, and wasn't go to scrimp on
a lieutenant's salary to pay the institute (well, except for paying off
those pesky student loans). However, I'm now in the private sector, and
reasonably well paid, to boot. Had this issue not come up, I would have
given a small amount by MIT standards - $500 this year.
Instead, I will be giving that money to another organization.
Should MIT decide to institute a mandatory meal plan, I will continue to
make donations elsewhere, although I will courtesy copy you, and the
corporation, each year, so that you can include the lost revenue on your
balance sheets.
-Andy Ellis '97
******
This is an open letter. Permission is granted to any recipient to
forward or publish this letter in its entirety. I urge alumni/ae to do
the same.
- --
Andy Ellis cordelia@akamai.com
Chief Security Architect
Akamai Technologies www.akamai.com
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