Everyone should check out the memo, “Challenging Choices Ahead,” distributed by the task force on academic. The memo notes that we don’t have enough money to continue our current spending levels, and suggests ways to cut back on spending or raise revenue. Among the suggestions-cut back on need blind admissions, cut back on study abroad, cut back on the number of faculty … or increase gifts to the college.

Many students operate under the erroneous belief that they have already given the college more than enough of their money. But a Mac education doesn’t cost $30,000 a year-it costs a lot more. It costs about $45,000 a year, in fact. Where does the extra $15,000 come from? From alumni giving, and from the endowment, which at one point came from alumni giving.

So here’s the deal: if you want Macalester to continue to offer need blind admissions and all that other good stuff, be a good alum.