Matched donation to libraries pushes pledge to $1 million

McGill students have done it again. For the fifth consecutive year, the Students' Society of McGill University (SSMU) have given $500,000 to the University's libraries. McGill Principal Heather Munroe-Blum will commemorate the gift -- which will be fully matched by the University -- during a special ceremony on April 3 at 4 pm in Redpath Library (3459 McTavish St.).

The commemoration of the student gift may also serve as a turning point, given that the SSMU is going to referendum in the fall of 2003 to allow undergraduates to decide if they wish to continue supporting the libraries (at $500,000 per year) beyond 2004. Since 1992, the SSMU has raised close to $11million for libraries, bursaries, the new Brown Student Services Building and the McGill Athletics Complex.

For more information, please call the University Relations Office, 514-398-6748, or Steven Spodek, development officer for McGill Libraries, at 514-398-1771.