Browsing the annals of university history in years to come, the class of 2005 might be surprised their graduating group did not collectively donate a class gift.
Donna Morton, the Alumni Association manager of annual funds, said the organization is "totally skipping" collecting the monetary senior class gift this year, citing the difficulty in reaching graduating seniors by telephone as a main deterrent.
"Most kids on campus have cell phones so we don't have access to those, and the phone numbers we have are parents or dorm numbers," Morton said.
She said unlike in all past years, alumni would not be soliciting to graduating seniors for donations with their telethon outreach, although they may continue the effort next year.
As for now, some seniors say they are not interested in donating any money to the organization, let alone leaving a parting gift to be remembered by.
Graduating art history senior Nicholas Laviola said if the Alumni Association had contacted him, he would not have donated any money.
"I feel like I'm living on another planet," he said. "I might not even go to graduation."
Morton said in past years, the donation requested of seniors correlated numerically with the graduating year, and this year's would ask for $20.05.
"It's only $20 so it won't have that big of an impact on anything," Morton said.
Morton said the class gift money can go to the organization itself for various uses or specifically to the graduate's college.
Morton said the Alumni Association handles the class gift because it is given by graduating seniors, who are technically alumni.
She said the foundation has been busy with the Alumni Plaza this year; another reason the senior class gift does not take precedence in the association's plans.
She said the organization has still been writing letters to alumni asking for 10th-, 25th- and 50th-year graduation anniversary donations.