Dear Ms. Mackle,
I am a graduate of Trent University and was affiliated with Catherine Parr Traill college as a student, and I am writing to explain my decision not to support any future University fundraising efforts. I can appreciate the position that you are currently in, given the university's decision to close the downtown colleges. My husband is a professional fundraiser currently with the Democratic Leadership Council here in Washington DC, and a close friend is an assistant director for the Johns Hopkins University Fund. Fundraising is an exciting and rewarding field however, my experience has taught me, that money equals power and voice.
When I was a hopeful Trent student in the late 1980's I would never have dreamt that I would end up in the United States with a front row seat observing the under-belly of political fundraising, but here I am. My first response upon hearing of the impending closures of Traill and P.R. was, "Well, Trent is never going to get another nickel out of me." Based on my experiences here, it is my opinion that money is a form of power and withholding mine is the easiest way for me to exercise my opposition to the University's decision to close the downtown colleges. I honestly cannot support any future fundraising efforts because of this decision.
I think that many others, so dedicated to Trent in the past, feel the same way I do. We, as alum, have supported our Trent, a place we feel a deep connection with. Our earnest support, as I recall, outpaces other universities and is a source of pride for Trent. I believe that the dedication Trent alumni is very special and reflects the uniqueness of Trent alumni and the way we feel about their school. What is very sad, is that it is this very connection to Trent that will be undermined and destroyed by the decision to close the downtown colleges. I believe that Trent alumni will be as committed to our decisions to no longer support future Trent fundraising campaigns, as we were committed to supporting past campaigns. I believe that I reflect other alumni, particularly those from P.R. and Traill, who will not support Trent in the future. The reason for this is simple: with the closure of PR and Traill, Trent becomes a distant memory, replaced by a new university that I have no kinship with. I can't think back to warm memories as Trent becomes a cold concrete and unconnected university. Trent is a part of Peterborough to me, not a solitary institution. I hope that I have explained to you my reason for not giving.
I implore you to consider that the future giving behaviour of other alumni is likely to be like mine. The psychology of giving is the cornerstone of fundraising, as I am sure you are aware. By closing down the downtown colleges, Trent administration have enucleated my reason for giving. It always felt good to give to Trent, which made your job easier. I wonder what kind of strategy the development department will utilize in the brave new world of Trent University? I request that you share my letter with the current Trent University Administration so they might understand the consequences of closing Traill and PR. Perhaps you would consider doing a cost benefit analysis of how the estimated loss of alumni giving would affect the financial future of Trent. Like others in my graduating class, I was finally coming to be in a position to give more to Trent.
Good luck in the future. I am sorry that the future of Trent University does not include me, or my money. I will give to my graduate school, Johns Hopkins University, and not Trent. Pity.
Sincerely,
Melanie Du Pon, '87