Staff Writer- August von Seth
Throughout next week from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Office of Advancement will be facilitating Gustie Gratitude Week in the Evelyn Young Dining Room, an initiative that allows students to express appreciation to those who help them complete their higher education. Concretely, students are welcome to send Gustie Gratitude Grams to individuals—particularly those on campus—who they feel are supporting them in navigating college. Notecards for donors providing scholarship funds will also be provided. Attractions include cookies and giveaways.
Project coordinator at the Office of Advancement, Annie Escalera, notes in a written statement that the annual event used to be held during the Spring semester, but that it was moved to “align with Thanksgiving and the holiday spirit of gratitude and generosity during the season.”
“Gustie Gratitude Week is all about reflecting on the support networks that surround us everyday. That includes family, friends, faculty, and everyone in our broad community who helps fuel our success,” Escalera wrote.
When facilitating the transfer of thank you messages to donors, employees at the Office of Advancement read through them as part of their “official donor stewardship.” When asked about potential implications for privacy protection, Escalera writes that the practice exists to account for “inaccuracies” that have been discovered over the years. Gustie Grams are, however, not subject to this process.
“It is our practice to review for accuracy (e.g. correct salutation, etc.) before mailing to donors,” Escalera wrote.
In an anonymous survey conducted in the POL-130 International Relations classroom, 20 students were asked what they were grateful for at Gustavus. Most emphasized was the value of community on campus, with more than half mentioning their sense of belonging as their primary reason for gratitude. Respondents called campus “inviting and inclusive,” a place where you can build community with people from “different walks of life,” including “random people” walking on the sidewalk.
Others stressed their appreciation for various places, programs, and activities organized by the college, such as the Arboretum, the Fine Arts program, the Career Development Center, and the gymnastics team. One student elevated the campus’s culinary offerings, praising the “good food” in the Cafeteria and “free cold brew,” in reference to the pop-up stands serving coffee with whipped cream and a variety of syrups that are occasionally set up throughout campus. The phrase “home away from home” appeared multiple times.
Some respondents chose to stay after class for post-survey interviews.
Junior Bethany Smith is most grateful for Gustavus’s faculty and staff, remarking that they “genuinely care about students.” She commends them for taking the time to familiarize themselves with individual students and working with them to help them fulfill their goals.
“One of my favorite places on campus is the Arboretum. I go there often to hammock and play Spikeball with friends—it’s always a good time,” Smith said.
Mollie Ruch, also a Junior, praises her gymnastics team for being “supportive and encouraging people.”
“Since I’m from Pennsylvania and far from home, having such a close support system makes Gustavus feel like a home away from home,” Ruch said.
Bennett Gerads, a First-year student, echoes her sentiment, lauding the support he receives “from everyone.”
“It definitely feels like a home away from home,” Gerads said.
“I’m extremely grateful for the amazing new opportunities Gustavus has brought into my life—professionally and personally. This school has given me a chance to grow exponentially, and I’m excited for the rest of my time here,” Natasha Grad, a transfer student unsure of exactly when she will graduate, said.
Professor Loramy Gerstbauer, who leads the course, has been at Gustavus since 2001.
“I’m grateful for my wonderful colleagues in the Political Science department and across campus, and for the students who keep me young and interested in continuing to learn,” Gerstbauer said.