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2007-07-24 issue:

Colleges try ‘countercultural’ approach

by Brian Schlabach

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SAN JOSÉ, Calif.—College booths at San José 2007 agreed to put an end to what has been called the “giveaway arms race.”

Last August, representatives from Hesston (Kan.) College, Goshen (Ind.) College, Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Va., Bluffton (Ohio) University and Bethel College in North Newton, Kan., agreed to set guidelines for how much a college can spend on its booth (no more than $4,000) and prizes ($10 per youth).

Dave Linscheid, director of alumni relations at Bethel, said the guidelines have been a good thing for youth and colleges alike. “It’s countercultural and fits with the message the youth are hearing,” he said. Instead of spending the $4,000 on giveaways, Bethel invited young people to help support causes such as the Hopi Mission School Foundation by entering a ticket in a draw. Each day, Bethel donated $1 per ticket to that day’s cause, up to $1,000. At the end of the week, the winning ticketholder’s youth group chose an agency to receive the final donation. The youth group (51 strong) from Harrisonburg (Va.) Mennonite Church won the ticket drawing.

Limits on the money spent helped put the colleges on a level playing field while cutting down the competition.

“I like the idea,” said Bluffton admissions director Chris Jebsen. “Ultimately our purpose is to promote higher education.”

Kendra King, a Hesston admissions counselor, agreed. “It forces people to be more creative.”

Lynn Jackson, Goshen’s executive director of enrollment, said, “We want to represent the colleges as fairly as possible. This way each of the schools can really bring out their own personalities.”— Brian Schlabach for mPress

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