The issues that come with fundraising in s Illustration by Jeanie Mao Janis McMath Editor-in-Chief lhe majority of students have contributed to a school fundraiser in some way—whether it was through purchasing something, raising funds, or volunteering. Fundraisers are great way fora school to get better resources for students, and they can bring a community together. With examples like Ontario’s schools raising half a billion in 2013, it’s clear that these education-driven fundraisers are nothing to sneeze at. But the big bags of money come with problems. Schools sometimes collaborate with companies that essentially sell an effective method to fundraise with. The company will take a share of the earnings made from the students—and sometimes the business will take a bigger cut of the profits than the school will. It feels wrong that some percentage of money raised for a school by students should go to a middleman. And while the argument that a school can raise more money with a capable company than they can on their own is a strong Janis McMath Editor-in-Chief M editor@theotherpress.ca Morgan Hannah Life & Style Editor M lifeandstyle@theotherpress.ca Arts Editor A Position Open News Editor © news@theotherpress.ca Position Open Entertainment Editor M4 humour@theotherpress.ca Christine Weenk Layout Manager M layout@theotherpress.ca 2 Lauren Kelly Graphics Manager © graphics@theotherpress.ca Nhi Jenny' Vo Production Assistant Joe Ayres Jessica Berget Assistant Editor M assistant@theotherpress.ca Sonam Kaloti Matthew Fraser Opinions Editor M opinions@theotherpress.ca Craig Allan Business Manager Jacey Gibb Distribution Manager Social Media Manager Mo Hussain Sports Reporter chools counterpoint, it is important to consider that there are many ethical issues introduced when bringing business into schools— and the school’s priority should be ethics over wealth. For example, an issue that comes up when schools collaborate with fundraising businesses is that money is being made fora private company through the efforts of children. Many fundraisers are structured so that children must go out and get pledges in exchange for glamourous prizes (which are a fraction of the cost of what the students bring in, of course). I understand that many of these fundraisers are raising money for worthy causes and that justifies it for some—but the method is also a little questionable as it takes advantage of the excited psyche of a child that is eager for toys. And while students are making money for their school, which is a positive, they are also technically making money for a business; is it ethical to make money off the work of children—even if they are primarily working to help their school? Many fundraisers raise money by selling products directly to the children and parents—and this style of fundraising comes with its own host of problems. These are, in a way, commercials handed directly to students and their families; is it ethical to allow obligatory commercials in education, even if they are fora good cause? And, as an article written by “A Group of Concerned Citizens of the Strathcona Community” for The Georgia Straight points out, these fundraising events exploit the fact that children will want whatever is being sold to them—and this creates a social pressure for poorer families to contribute. The culture of shame doesn't help the case for fundraisers either. Asking students to fundraise often also obligates the parents into making a time commitment, as they often must aid the child in raising money—and this is extremely inconsiderate of the fact that some families will not have time to give. Yet, in my experience, it is an unwritten rule that students should go out fundraise; parents that donate an amount instead of doing the door-to-door work are met with disapproval. And, if a business is making a cut off the fundraising, it is fair to view fundraising as an obligation (especially if one doesn’t want to contribute to that company’s success)? As famous business mogul Kevin O’Leary said on Shark Tank, “the DNA of a school is not to provide commerce.’ Teaching is commonly seen an altruistic venture for many—so bringing business into the ecosystem comes with many important ethical questions to consider before we further normalize the growing business of fundraising in schools. On to Cincinnati, SAME Janis McMath Room 1020 - 700 Royal Ave. Douglas College New Westminster, BC, V3L 5B2 604-525-3542 Athena Little Illustrator Udeshi Seneviratne Illustrator Marts@theotherpress.ca CJ Sommerfeld Staff Writer ia 2. Billy Bui Staff Photographer Arnaldo Fragozo Staff Photographers Jonathan Pabico Senior Columnist Brandon Yip Senior Columnist The Other Press has been Douglas College's student newspaper since 1976. Since 1978 we have been an autonomous publication, independent of the student union. We are a registered society under the Society Act of British Columbia, governed by an eight-person board of directors appointed by our staff. Our head office is located in the New Westminster campus. eel Otel -Jar ee) published weekly during ple Ec} CIAO MU AIALCTE semesters, and monthly during the summer. We receive our funding from RY AOLO (<0 (A GO) (LaE=Tel raeTgelOle Lg mAOIL ULC) e Ill A184 semester at registration, and from local and national advertising revenue, The Other Press is a member of the Canadian CIS mae a elo) a syndicate of student newspapers that includes fey} ol MA AOYEEM-}/-IG ROSS Canada. The Other Press reserves the right to choose what we will publish, and we will not publish ArcTRcIE IM UALTELtACIP obscene, or condones or promotes illegal activities. Submissions may be edited for clarity and brevity if necessary. 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