Seniors name Kibera for gift
'08 class to raise funds for cause
By: Chris Carter, Staff Writer
Issue date: 9/24/07 Section: University
Senior class officials have decided which organization they will support as their class gift, following in the steps of the preceding class by donating money to a cause.
Senior marshals voted unanimously to give to Carolina for Kibera - a nongovernmental organization that fights poverty and promotes nonviolence in Kenya.
Ashley Shores, senior class president, began promoting the cause during her campaign last semester. She said Carolina for Kibera was chosen because it benefits the University by making it a more international campus.
When Shores was running for senior class president last semester, she also offered the Millennium Village Project as a potential recipient of a service gift.
She said the Millennium Village was ruled out because of concerns that it does not benefit the UNC campus directly.
But some seniors have been concerned with the lack of student input into the decision.
"I want to choose my gift," senior Leland Timmons said, adding that he still prefers a donation to a physical gift.
Last year's project was not announced until after seniors voted on it in a special election in mid-October, but this year's senior class officials said that their February elections campaign platforms focused on their ideas for the class gift.
"We thought we could get this approved, and we wanted to start this semester," said Veronica Mora, senior class vice president. "You want to encourage people to have the mind-set of giving back."
Shores also said that students can donate to any cause.
"It doesn't matter what we endorse specifically because seniors can give anywhere," she said. "We talked to Chancellor (James) Moeser, and he's 100 percent behind the gift."
Before deciding on Carolina for Kibera, the project had to be approved by officials in the Office of University Development and the senior marshals.
Shores said the process of choosing a gift is set up differently now than in years past.
Senior marshals voted unanimously to give to Carolina for Kibera - a nongovernmental organization that fights poverty and promotes nonviolence in Kenya.
Ashley Shores, senior class president, began promoting the cause during her campaign last semester. She said Carolina for Kibera was chosen because it benefits the University by making it a more international campus.
When Shores was running for senior class president last semester, she also offered the Millennium Village Project as a potential recipient of a service gift.
She said the Millennium Village was ruled out because of concerns that it does not benefit the UNC campus directly.
But some seniors have been concerned with the lack of student input into the decision.
"I want to choose my gift," senior Leland Timmons said, adding that he still prefers a donation to a physical gift.
Last year's project was not announced until after seniors voted on it in a special election in mid-October, but this year's senior class officials said that their February elections campaign platforms focused on their ideas for the class gift.
"We thought we could get this approved, and we wanted to start this semester," said Veronica Mora, senior class vice president. "You want to encourage people to have the mind-set of giving back."
Shores also said that students can donate to any cause.
"It doesn't matter what we endorse specifically because seniors can give anywhere," she said. "We talked to Chancellor (James) Moeser, and he's 100 percent behind the gift."
Before deciding on Carolina for Kibera, the project had to be approved by officials in the Office of University Development and the senior marshals.
Shores said the process of choosing a gift is set up differently now than in years past.
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