Empowered Participation

By Amy Veltman ’89

Barnard Magazine

Spring 2022

At my high school in the Oregon suburbs, it used to be fashionable to lie about your age to get out of class to give blood. The needles terrified me only slightly less than the prospect of my sleuthy mother somehow discovering I had skipped fourth period. The bloodletting trend was not for me.

When I arrived at Barnard, I was instantly overwhelmed. The city was thrilling and a little bit scary, just like Barnard and my new, almost limitless freedom. I could not believe how fortunate I was to be there.

Within days of my arrival, banners announced a blood drive across the street at Columbia. What better way to demonstrate my appreciation for the opportunity I’d been given than to overcome my fear and quite literally give of myself.

Clammy-handed, I submitted to the preliminary finger prick to give a sample of my O+ wares. The nurse took one look at my grayed-out face and delivered me to the cookie table to recover. From the finger prick.

I had “donated” exactly one drop of blood before being sent home. Unfortunately, I received several Oreos in return, thus thwarting my mission to perform an act of altruism to thank the universe for my bounty. I was crestfallen.

Today, I cringe at my failed dramatic gesture in 1985. However, I stand by the initial impulse that propelled me to want to open a vein: my deep gratitude for the gift of a Barnard education.

As an adult, I have found a more painless (and effective!) way to demonstrate appreciation: I donate money.

The value of a Barnard education has only risen since I arrived in 1985. This year, applications to the College topped 12,000 — the highest ever in our history. The 2022 edition of U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges ranked us #17 among national liberal arts colleges. Yes, those are external measures, but ask a fellow graduate applying for a job or graduate school: The perception of an institution is vitally important.

While #17 is wonderful, I believe the opportunities and education available to Barnard students rival those at the very top of the list.

As alumnae, we have a concrete role to play in elevating Barnard’s reputation. A slice of the ranking in U.S. News & World Report is based on the percentage of alums who make a donation of any amount to their alma mater, a number referred to as participation. It pains me to share that, in comparison to the other top 20 national liberal arts colleges, Barnard’s participation rate is surprisingly low.

If you have not made a donation to the College this year, could you please make a gift of any amount right now — gifts of $5 add up to make an impact — by visiting barnard.edu/give? If you are able, this action will make an important difference in the lives of current students, many fellow graduates, and the entire Barnard community.

I hope to see you at Reunion — June 9–11, 2022 — where you can see for yourself how vibrant and thrilling Barnard is today.

With gratitude,