Morningside Making a Difference (MMAD)

By Ashley Duncan– Student groups run rampant across Morningside’s campus. There are roughly 40 groups that get involved with campus and aspects of life outside of campus. What makes each of these student groups unique, is that they all fundraise for a different cause. 

However, this year, student government has come up with a new idea of fundraising and bringing all student groups together. Instead of just fundraising for individual organizations, Morningside students are collectively going to adopt an organization and fundraise for it. 

“This year Morningside Student Government is facilitating a campus wide community giving project called Morningside Making a Difference (MMAD),” said Garrett Arbuckle, student governments president. 

Morningside Making a Difference is a project that involves adopting a local, national, or international non-profit organization. Student groups will have to put on a fundraiser and donate all or a high percentage of their funds raised. 

Students can still fundraise for their usual organizations, but this idea brings groups collectively together because they have the chance to fundraise with each other. 

This first-year project was brought about by Arbuckle himself. It was an idea he had based off what his high school once did. “It brings together all different areas of the Morningside family. Everyone on this campus is talented in their own ways and there is good power behind [this project]. It can do a lot of good things, even if we don’t raise a lot of funds. I think it is important to unify the campus on a cause outside of campus,” said Arbuckle.  

Morningside Making a Difference is a required project, but at the same time it isn’t. There are basic criteria that student groups need to meet to be able to allocate for funds from student government. However, Arbuckle says that if students don’t have the chance to fundraise for this one organization, it isn’t going to make or break the deal for allocating funds. 

Camrie Miranda, co-president of Active Minds, says they are very excited to partake in Morningside Making a Difference because advocacy is a huge part of their group. “We cannot wait to see what is in store for this event and I am excited to see what Active Minds is able to do moving into the new semester and taking part in Morningside Making a Difference.”

Calissa Hanson, a part of the Anime Division, also agrees with Miranda and said, “It does sound like a good idea. I don’t have a lot of attendance this semester, so hopefully I can contribute [to the project] next semester.”

The final choice of which organization will be adopted by the students is narrowed down by the student senate and then voted on by the senate and student groups. Morningside Making a Difference will begin in the spring semester and student groups can fundraise whenever. 

“Student government is very excited to put on this new event and we are excited to see the impact that Morningside will have on the larger community. We hope student groups will give their all in supporting this effort,” said Arbuckle.