The budget crisis has had a negative impact on the state, and even with the aid of alumni donations, NIU is no exception.

Mallory Simpson, president of the NIU Foundation, said alumni are feeling the weight of the economy.

“We are finding that because of the market conditions and economy, some people are less inclined to make large gifts at this time,” she said.

Simpson said the NIU Foundation, a separate not-for-profit entity that acquires and manages private gift support for the university, brought in more than $12.8 million in the last fiscal year, which doesn’t include the $20 million donation received from alumnus Dennis Barsema two years ago.

David Graf, the dean of the College of Business, said the donation from Barsema has impacted the business program dramatically.

“It’s improved certainly the technology aspects of classes,” he said. “It gives us the tools we need to work.”

Most alumni, however, specify areas where they want their donations to go, and tend to think their money shouldn’t support where the state isn’t cutting it, Simpson said.

Simpson said alumni Tom and Shirley Scott made a donation in December for $21,200 for their scholarship fund in the College of Education. Alumnus David Layman made a $20,000 donation in the last half of 2002 for the NIU Tri County Community Health Center, while Michael Reschke made a $5,000 donation as part of a $25,000 pledge.

Graf said alumni donations help the University overall.

“[Donations] are becoming more important all the time,” he said. “As the state funds become reduced, we rely on public funds even more.”

Michael Parrish, a biology professor and chair of the biology department, said there is a steady stream of donations that come into the department which provide equipment and help fund scholarships.

“We don’t have any Barsema’s in biology,” he said with a laugh.

Simpson added that most support coming into the university is applied to academics.

“Donors tend to want to give to support with very specific program initiatives,” she said. “I think a lot of them like to donate to their individual department.”

Some students recognize the value of alumni donations.

Shannon Crookshank, a senior FCNS major, said the university has used the donations wisely, though she doesn’t think buildings need to be as extravagant.

Jeremy Logterman, a freshman electrical engineering major, agreed in the importance of alumni donations and said recent contributions, like Barsema Hall, up the morale of the university.

“With alumni donations, they can allow students opportunities with scholarships,” he said.

Graf pointed out that donations benefit NIU, even in the long run.

“I think the gift has been a catalyst for many good things to come,” he said.

Parrish said he is very appreciative of the donations his department continues to receive.

“In general, as the economy has taken a downturn, a lot of people have been cautious in their giving,” he said. “I’m grateful a lot of alumni have continued in their giving.”