Student groups plan adoption to fund proposed university center

by Colleen Schmidt
Staff Writer

Representatives of Ohio University student organizations expressed interest in “adopting” a bobcat last night at a meeting conducted by the Student Campaign Advancement Committee.

SCAC’s goal for the “Show Us Your Bobcat!” fundraiser is to loan 100 4-foot tall bobcat statutes to student organizations and university groups to decorate. The statues later will be returned and auctioned off to OU alumni at Homecoming 2002.

Student organizations “adopt” the bobcats because the university officially will own them, said Andrea McDonald, chair of the bobcat committee. A non-refundable fee of $50 will be required for all who participate.

All proceeds from the auction will go to the Bicentennial Campaign, OU’s goal of raising $200 million by the OU’s bicentennial in 2004, said Alissa Galford, co-chair of SCAC.

“Our goal is to help raise funds for the new student center,” Galford said. “The student portion of that campaign is to raise $100,000 by 2004.”

SCAC presented the idea to about 60 presidents and executive officers of student organizations.

SCAC invited 360 registered student organizations on campus, McDonald said. Some of the organizations represented included the Women’s Panhellenic Association, University Program Council, OU Student Senate, several social fraternities and sororities and honor societies.

“I think our members are really excited about this,” said Colin Mulloy, president of the Acacia fraternity. “I think they look forward to taking a more active part in the community.”  

The bobcats will be “adopted” during March, said Amanda Cunningham, co-chair of SCAC. Student organizations will decorate them and return them to the SCAC in April.

Organizations who do not collect dues or who have fewer than 25 members can apply for a scholarship to help fund the fee, McDonald said.

“The scholarship was established by alumni for those groups who have difficulty with this fee,” Cunningham said.

McDonald, president of the National Communication Association Student Club, told the representatives their organizations should participate because it promotes involvement.

“It’s a great way for members to really have a commitment to your organization,” she said.

Most attendees said they would likely “adopt.”

“We’re going to take it back and talk about it, but we’re interested,” said Mindy Weber, treasurer of the American Association of Family Consumer Sciences.

SCAC intended to display a model bobcat at the meeting but was not able to because of changes in the manufacturing process, said Rick Harrison, OU assistant dean for student affairs development.