Alumni Funding Ham Radio and Activities

After reading about UCF's (University of Central Florida) potential loss of their Amateur Radio club and facility, I felt I could possibly assist the next generation of hams by offering current Alumni suggestions in ensuring the future of Amateur Radio both in the classroom as well as outside!

I attended 7 different universities, some for a single course, others for a few courses or a degree. During my attendance at the first few institutions, I was involved both in student government as well as in various student activities such as radio, TV, newspaper, foreign student organizations, religious groups, and other humanitarian services offered at two institutions.

In my second year of college, I became a focal point and mediator, dealing with heated issues between Alumni, the Student Body, Greek Institutions, and the Educational Administration as a prime member of Student Government.

I then became fully aware of some unbelievable things (POLITICS) that I never knew existed to the reached extreme and eventually I couldn't handle the stress and class work together, and had to transfer twice due to Administrative conflicts.

I am writing this article to make any Alumni who make donations either in time, financial contributions, outside support, etc. Aware of a few very unbelievable actions that the Administrations took at two educational foundations I attended. (I do not wish to offer names and remind the reader I've attended 7 educational institutions to this date.) I'm not stating or implying all educational facilities are following procedures I mention below, but rather that these things CAN happen and to make those aware of how to act to counter these events from affecting your contributions.

Many donations are made to educational facilities are simply just that, a donation. In other words, the administrative body and board can decide what area best suits the donation and can vest the interest and expense toward that area. (Some require this in a donation!) One such example is faculty research. Although it may improve the overall value of the university, sometimes students do not get the opportunity or experience working with a professor toward a research project. This I believe is a shame.

One such action I became aware of was the feel for a raise in salary of all the board members who were deans at the university. They felt that one 5M donor's contribution towards the Radio Club plus an increase in student cost of 2.5k/yr would provide a "valid reason" to increasing administrative salaries rather than meeting educational goals and/or following business strategy or goals! After the Alum who donated the 5M paid the ten-dollar FCC renewal license from his pocket to keep the Radio Club on-air (I called him) because of a 10-dollar/year-student budget radio station allotment, I as well as the Alum who donated had to give up on the institution. (As you can imagine, there was no wait to transfer.)

Another was a donation to the Christian Club at the second university. The club's 3-story Gothic building, built in 1900, was built and provided to the university to be used solely for student worship. It soon became a home for the Dean, his friends, an Administrative hangout, & psychologist. Shortly after, an Alum who was a Christian Club donor, donated 2M for the facility's renovation and 200k toward the student newspaper which was also located in the facility. However, the newspaper never got a penny and was forced out without a home, and the facility was slated for demolition to make way for new offices and a statue for the President and Academic Dean. Only after a local historical society group put a lean on the demolition, did it return to student use. (Guess it was not new enough for the President and Academic Dean.) They went after the Greek houses afterwards... A statue of the current President of the college was stated to replace this historical landmark that marked the beginning and religious foundry of the college! (Lets say the President and most board members were either bought out or they weren't Christian. The President wasn't.) I soon left that college also.

I would feel the best donation would be one given with stipulation to go toward a certain activity or purpose. On the campuses I attended, you could specify to what your donation was applied. However, many Alumni and community members never FOLLOWED-UP to verify their contributions were actually contributing students! Sometimes the follow-up was with the Administration or Staff, which would claim the donation was put toward "proper" use, as specified or listed in the books. I would recommend any and all Alumni visit the campus or get a few numbers and email addresses of students involved in the activity they support. Often, clubs have webpages and they list email addresses of student members. Get to know the students, and every month or two ask what has been going on and what actions the school and students have been taking in the club, budgeting, etc….

This way, you can be sure when you donate for a specific cause, that the cause will actually receive your support and contributions.

Let's get Ham Radio back into schools and educational programs. And if they don't allow specific donations, don't donate! What better way than to take from institutions primary foundation for not supporting students and student activities such as Ham Radio?

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