The Comprehensive Campaign enjoyed a successful audition with the on-campus version. The principles were simple.
Any employee who gave any amount whatever gets his or her name on a future brick walk at the corners of Emerson and College, near the site of the new Science Center. Any employee who gave a fixed larger amount honors a former employee in the same way. Soon, all over campus, those who had given were sprouting “Bricks for the Future” buttons, adorned impressively with a large red brick. Future generations who walk this walk will get a snapshot of who worked and gave at Beloit in 2005-2006 and before.
We aimed for a 100% but never thought we’d get it. Although our rules allowed those unable to give much to give at least something, we never thought we’d get much over 85%. We were wrong. We came very close to 100%. Departments took it as a matter of intense pride and happy obligation to get as close to total participation as possible. Several department heads agreed to match or even double what their departments had given. We on the Steering Committee never expected either the high percentages or the total joy of the project.
We should have, though, for what made the campaign successful also makes Beloit successful. It is a community, where the work of education goes on 24/7. This is why the Pew Foundation gave Beloit its very best ranking in its study of colleges and universities: because Beloit is a total educational project. As English Professor Tom McBride, chair of the Steering Committee put it on October 7, 2005, “Beloit is learning about Victorian machines from Tamara Ketabgian; about US media from Georgia Duerst-Lahti; and about molecules from Brock Spencer. It's working on your comprehensive academic plan with Gill Batterman. It's being mothered at the Tau Kappa house by Marge Harris and learning about the creativity of maintenance tools from Ray Thomas. It's learning about Hispanic culture up close from Mariaelena Almanza in Wood Hall and from Teresa Almaraz in the Morse Library, and about basketball and life from Everett Henry. It's going to movies and arguing about everything with the Food Dude (the late and beloved Bill Behling, director of Food Services).”
McBride noted that the campus had just witnessed Reunion Weekend and that it is always gratifying to see old faces, just as it is exciting to see the brand-new faces of every entering class. But, he added, “But although it's good for students' faces to become older and wiser, it's not good for buildings' faces to grow elderly and their insides less functional. Therefore part of our comprehensive campaign will be devoted to changing the campus face, just as we change the faces--and minds--of our students.”
Thus it was doubly appropriate for bricks to be the icon of the On-Campus Campaign: bricks not only to remember the past and give thanks for contributions, but also bricks for the future educational excellence of the institution. The On-Campus Campaign proves how worthy Beloit is of the contributions that come from the larger Comprehensive Campaign itself.
Daniel Webster once said, of another school that was also established by New Englanders, "a small school, sir, but there are those who love it." Of Beloit we may rightly say, "a small school but one with big ideas; and these, madam and sir, we shall attain."
(Note: Members of the On-Campus Campaign Steering Committee were Emily Chamlee-Wright, professor of economics; Bruce Hamilton, maintenance supervisor in the physical plant; DeVon Wilson, director of academic achievement and assistant dean of students; Brock Spencer, professor of chemistry; Barb Seymour, executive secretary to the v-p for enrollment; Dave Threinen, alumnus and trustee; and Lynda Graham, director of corporate and foundation relations in the external affairs office. The Steering Committee began in the fall of 2005 and completed its work in the spring of 2006.)