Opinion | $300 gesture offends working students

Guest column by Daniel Brennan, senior public relations and advertising major

Daniel Brennan

To say Chapman does things with a certain flair would be an understatement. If there’s one thing I love about my school, it’s the length it goes to make events great for the student population.

Have you seen the amount of free food it provides at each event? There have been weeks where I haven’t had to buy dinner because Chapman was celebrating, opening or dedicating something, and I love it. As a student, I truly appreciate my university going out of its way to ensure that events aren’t just mediocre, but incredible.

I do, however, have a line that can be crossed (yes, I have standards — shocking to hear this, I’m sure). I’m not that easily bothered, but my limits have been tested.

On Tuesday, Chapman held a rededication for the Julianne Argyros Fitness Center, a gym that, according to many, needed revamping.

“How exciting,” I thought, “Not only do we get a new gym, but I don’t have to pay for lunch today!”

I’ll admit, part of the reason I go to so many Chapman events is so I can get free meals. But today, the delicious aftertaste of my free Jamba Juice and wrap were soured by a promotional idea a little too uncomfortable for even my outrageous taste.

After President Doti, Dean Price and Julianne Argyros spoke to the students about how excited they were about their beautiful new facility and exciting new initiatives, guests of the event were treated to a show not typically seen on a college campus.

In addition to the T-shirts being tossed out into the crowd of students who attended, three $100 bills (gift wrapped, of course) were to be tossed out to the students as well.

Now this might not sound like the most offensive thing in the world, but let me delve further. As a student from a family I would consider very far from wealthy, I try to be conscious of how I spend my money. I have worked a part-time job since sophomore year. Am I destitute? No. Am I struggling to pay for Chapman? Yes. As I stood among the students, I watched as the elite of Chapman (elevated above the crowd) tossed $300 out like it was candy. Students pushed and shoved to snatch the money-containing boxes.

I understand the generosity of the donors, I appreciate all they do for us and I know they meant well with their gifts to the crowd. But I couldn’t help but feel as though I was just a commoner in the crowd as the upper crust gave us a taste of their fortunes.

Is that what they intended? Of course not. Is that how I and many other students from my economic class see it? That would be a resounding “yes.” As someone who has to be careful so I can afford groceries, it served as a rude awakening as to how this community perceives money.

I won’t deny it. I really wanted that money. But as the crowd dispersed, I heard one student who had not gotten one of the bills say, “Whatever, it’s just $100.”

What a place we live in, where it can be “just” $100.