Sophomore class gift requires responsibility

As the Sophomore Class Gift Committee began the process of selecting a gift early in the fall semester, we wanted to decide on a gift that would be a tangible, useful resource for the Vassar community, while maintaining a posture of fiscal responsibility in our decision. The gift should add value to the College and improve the student experience. Our attention turned to the outpouring of student objections to the library's temporary need to move its closing time to midnight—could we take up an initiative to alleviate staffing pressures and extend access to the library?

In consultation with Dean of Planning and Academic Affairs Rachel Kitzinger and Director of the Libraries Sabrina Pape, we discovered an opportunity to shape the Martha Rivers and E. Bronson Ingram Reading Room and the Reserve Room in the Thompson Memorial Library into a 24-hour space. Students expressed deep concerns over the prospect of a less-accessible library, and such a space would perpetuate the availability of this critical academic resource.

Fiscal responsibility and innovation are integral to this gift. In light of the College's need for thrift in the current financial climate, how could we create a gift that will relieve budgetary pressures while still making a substantial contribution to the College? The space will afford library administration staffing and budgetary flexibility and will ensure that students always have a space to study.

Capital costs are low—apart from a few card readers, security cameras and anti-theft equipment, almost no construction is necessary. What about long-term financing? Our fundraising will finance the inception and reconfiguration of the space, but year-to-year costs are still a concern; we needed a solution that wouldn't incur long-run costs.

Of course, this decision to forego funding a staff position places responsibility for the space with the Vassar community. We will have no one to blame but ourselves if the new space deteriorates into a tragedy of the commons—it is important that the users of this space take ownership of this new and valuable resource. If the space is mistreated and vandalized, it will be easy for 24-hour access to be revoked. The College simply does not have the wherewithal to fix our mistakes, thus it will be more critical than ever that we treat this space with consideration and respect.

Our fundraising target is an achievable $7,000. If the Class of 2012 reaches 70 percent participation, the Class of 1987 will make a generous contribution of $7,000. The Class of 2012 may be organizing this gift, but it is by no means exclusive—it will benefit the entire community. The 2012 Class will soon start a fundraising campaign, and we need the support of the community to realize this tremendous opportunity.

The library is the crown jewel of intellectual life at Vassar, and this exciting gift will serve to make it even better. Its troves of academic resources are invaluable, and it provides a wonderful environment for studying, learning and thinking. The addition of a 24-hour study space will affirm the library's position as the center of life at Vassar and well reflects the academic character and rigor of the Vassar community, without placing unnecessary financial stress on the College.

—Joseph Schiavo '12 is Treasurer of the Class of 2012 and a member of the Sophomore Class Gift Committee