By Jaime Hoerbelt

A University policy requiring a $50 annual donation for an alumnus to receive a University identification card to gain access to University facilities will be implemented this month. Alumni will have to pay the annual fee to use the Recreation Center and Axinn Library. In response to rumors that HUID’s would not be issued to alumni, or that the ID’s would not give them access to facilities, Alan Kelly, the vice president for Development and Alumni Affairs said, “It’s not true.” Kelly said the rumors probably came from talks of a new plan to change how alumni are rewarded for donations. Under the new system, an alumnus must make a yearly donation of $50 to receive an alumni card. Alumni who graduated within the last 10 years need only make a $25 annual donation, and graduating seniors will receive the cards for free; the IDs will be active for one year. Previously, Card Services granted any alumnus a no-charge alumni card, granting access to the same facilities as current students. Alumni who chose to donate money received a letter of thanks from the University, as well as an invitation to a donor appreciation reception. “We definitely posed the question of ‘What would happen if we did this and we advertised? How would it affect student use?'” Kelly said, alluding to the issue of whether there is enough room in University facilities to accommodate both alumni and students. “I think it’s fine,” said Alexandra Cooney, a freshman psychology major. “There are definitely times when places like the Recreation Center are packed, but that doesn’t mean the alumni should lose access to them.” “A lot of other schools do this kind of thing,” Kelly said, adding that the proposal will probably take effect before the end of October. Alumni who had taken advantage of the services offered by the University at no cost now face a compulsory annual donation if they wish to continue use of those facilities. “I feel shafted,” said an alumnus who agreed to comment on the condition of anonymity. “We’ve always been allowed to use facilities without being charged. Didn’t we pay enough in tuition while we were here?” Megan Bastos, a freshman music education major, deemed the annual donation acceptable. “It’s a reasonable price for them to pay if they are using our facilities,” Bastos said. Kelly added that despite mixed feelings toward the proposal, Alumni Affairs seeks to be clear that “alumni participation is obviously very important to the school.”

Balbinder Singh Bhogal, Chair of the Sikh Studies. (hofstra.edu)