nostalgia payments

I just got an email from the Development and Alumni Relationships department of the University of Essex. They were asking alumni if they would be willing to make a monthly donation to an ‘opportunities fund’ for current and future students. I never really got on with the University administration or the Students Union whilst I was there, both being exercises in how to lose independent initiative in endless corridors of bureaucracy.

Yet a few weekends ago I was invited back to a alumni weekend at Essex. If you successfully navigated your way through the ridiculously complicated check they had in place to ensure you were indeed a former student (and make you pay handsomely for each and every step of this check), then the end product was actually a reasonably good weekend. SX burgers, the stifling heat and smells of the Underground (or Sub-Zero if you prefer), and an abysmal display of 5 a side football all brought back fond memories. So I guess it wasn’t all bad.

So rather than being disgusted at the organised begging of my former university I am actually rather impressed with it. I remember that the University of Arkansas was almost entirely paid for by rich individuals and companies that had some sort of connection with the institution. And despite getting peanuts from the federal authorities the University was lavish with new buildings and facilities which put the drab concrete buildings and worn out classrooms of Essex to shame. So perhaps it is about time we started putting our money where our mouth is and started caring for our former institutions. The money they want will go directly into providing bursaries and scholarships for poorer students – both of which will become more important as our universities continue to hike up tuition prices to compete with the United States.

When I can afford it, I think i'll sign up.

Possibly.