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Opinion
 

Staff Editorial

                Matt Dulin     Chris Elliott                        Robyn Morrow                  Johnny Peña
                                      Fabian Sifuentes              Kristen Young

Homecoming could bring in big donations 

Raising money for universities is an art. It requires fund-raisers to schmooze rich alumni by hosting posh galas and arranging for honorary awards to be given to high-profile contributors. Last week Cornell University kicked off a campaign to raise $4 billion for the school. Earlier this month, Stanford pledged to raise $4.3 billion. Those universities pay people a lot of money -- upwards of $200,000 -- to bring in the big donors. 

UH fundraisers are definitely not chasing endowment figures that rival Ivy League schools, but this week's Homecoming festivities are designed to pique the interest of our most prosperous alumni and plant the philanthropy seed in current students. 

The Houston Alumni Organization has been promoting Homecoming events since the start of the semester, and students should participate. UH fund-raisers aren't directly targeting students, but increased campus involvement can drum up support from those with healthy bank accounts. The idea is a vibrant university is a healthy one, one that will produce successful professionals and one that is worth investing in.

Donations from alumni can seriously impact tuition rates. University grants come in part from private donations and help subsidize the expense of higher education. Donations also amount to better facilities and professors, so while it might seem hokey to some to buy into the Homecoming hype, it's in the best interest of students to participate.

The U.S. Census Bureau announced last week that the average college graduate makes nearly $23.000 a year more than those who hold only a high school degree. Of course, the better the reputation of your school, the wider that gap gets. But what's most important is that students make it to graduation, and because donations can help take the financial burden off students, university fund-raisers carry a lot of responsibility. 

Show our most successful alumni that UH is alive with support from students, faculty and staff by participating in Homecoming events this week. It will go a long way toward encouraging them to invest in our education.