Clemson leverages Spring Football game to benefit good cause

As budgets are shrinking at universities around the country, a popular way to handle cutting costs has been to institute a furlough for university employees. During this time, an employee is required to take a certain amount of time off without pay, essentially a mandatory leave from work.

While many employees are not happy to take a furlough, some can get through the year with the reduced income. However, some are not as lucky. Clemson University, a school who recently instituted a furlough, has found a unique way to handle this situation.

On the urging of new Head Coach Dabo Swinney, the school placed orange colored “All In” barrels throughout the concourse during the Spring Football game. The 24,000 people in attendance helped raise over $7,000 dollars to be donated to the One Clemson Furlough Fund. Clemson University, after recieving the money, has assembled a team of fund managers to disperse the money among applicants.

This is a great example of a department building relationships across the campus by donating funds to be used for those who are less fortunate. At many colleges, the academic side of campus can be hesitant or reluctant to support athletics. However, displays of such generosity go a long way to creating friends on the academic side of the university and enable the university to work together to get through tough economic times.