Universities ask their alumni constantly to donate money to them, often in the form of naming the school in their will. That is nothing unusual.
What is unusual is the timing of Ole Miss asking its alums to put the college in their wills in case they happen to die in the middle of a worldwide pandemic.
Which is exactly what the University of Mississippi did this week, according to an email obtained by Matt Jones of Kentucky Sports Radio.
“There is a common expression that ‘change is the only constant in life.’ We often experience this with our careers, our residences, and even our families,” the email begins, already off to a very bad start, considering the timing of it.
“Sometimes situations change around us, and developments in our health, laws and/or the financial landscape present new challenges.”
Did anyone at Ole Miss actually read this before it was sent out this week?
“In those times, it is beneficial to consider revisiting the content of your will, especially if it was designed years ago and now needs attention,” it continues.
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“Just like your home, your estate plan needs regular maintenance to reflect situations and circumstances you’ve faced.”
Like, say, contracting a deadly virus?
Ole Miss basically says hey you might die of CoronaVirus, so please put us in your will
Brazen pic.twitter.com/7IR6oi7bFk
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) March 24, 2020
As one can imagine, people were rather put off by Ole Miss’ attempt to squeeze money out of its alumni during a crisis.
Well I was going to leave my wife and my parents in my will, but Ole Miss needs us in this time of crisis.
— Jay Lawless (@UKJayL) March 24, 2020
Hotty Tacky!
— Darrin Pursley (@darrinpursley) March 24, 2020
— TJ Waggoner (@tjwaggoner) March 24, 2020
I’ve actually seen several instances of this sort of thing in the past few days. It’s really a ghoulish brand of opportunism.
— MichaelPGibbons (@MichaelPGibbons) March 24, 2020
Seems a little,,, uhhh,,, buzzardly
— Mark Anthony (@worthngtonmark) March 24, 2020
I work in gift planning at UNC Charlotte. These emails are usually prepared weeks ahead of time. I’m sure there was no ill intent, but someone DEFINITELY should have pulled this before it went out.
— Bri DeLong (@brldelong) March 24, 2020
You think?