A reaction to “NYU fundraising, spending choices ridiculous” as published in the February 25th edition of Washington Square News

In light of the article published last week criticizing the 1831 Fund and financial aid at NYU, I would like to take this opportunity to shed some light on the fund, and to clear up some misconceptions displayed in the article. As a relatively new body on campus, our biggest hurdle is demystifying our cause. We can only hope that a student-led publication would advocate for our student-led initiative, or at the very least print an accurate representation of our Fund.

Four years ago, a few students at NYU recognized the University’s financial aid problem, and took the matter into their own hands by starting the 1831 Fund. Since that day, 100% of every dollar raised by the Fund has gone directly into scholarships for incoming freshmen and transfer students. No part of the funds raised go toward University expansion plans, or any other operational expenses. In donating to the fund students actually double the impact of their dollars due to a personally directed dollar-for-dollar match from President Sexton. At almost every other university of NYU’s caliber, it is a tradition for students to give back before graduating, with the majority of their respective senior classes making a gift.

While I absolutely respect a student’s decision not to donate to the Fund, given that we all have different financial means, I choose to donate $18.31 because NYU has presented me with opportunities I would have never come across at other universities, and has introduced me to life-long friends that have opened my mind to new perspectives on the world. To me, giving another student the chance to come to NYU and experience all that is has to offer is worth much more than the dollar amount of the donation in the grand scheme of things.

There is no denying that the city can jade us, and we often forget that we too once dreamed of coming to this university to live, study, and intern in the greatest city in the world. However, it is important to take time to reflect upon all of our experiences here, as we have grown from lost freshman into driven leaders, and intellectually curious individuals.

Financial aid certainly has a lot of room for improvement here at NYU, but I will continue to do my small part in working toward a solution to this problem, and a better NYU.

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