This post was written by freshman Lyndsey Wajert, a Hatchet columnist.

According to an article in last Thursday’s Hatchet, the University has postponed its fund raising plans for the proposed Science and Engineering Complex – marking one of the University’s first fiscally informed and generally smart moves regarding the multi-million dollar project.

The Hatchet reports that GW “has delayed launching a formal fund raising campaign for the proposed $300 million SEC due to the ailing economy.” In previous columns, I worried that the University would not be able to raise such funds from individual donors amidst the economic situation, and the latest announcement by senior administrators confirms my fears.

Ironically enough, the New York Times featured an article in its April 15th issue describing how some colleges and universities across the country “are appealing to donors to help meet the swelling demand for financial aid.” Fortunately, GW is not facing such a dilemma, but the plight other colleges are facing further indicates that administrators are wise in their decision to delay a fundraising campaign that will direct money to construction plans.

The fact that administrators are refraining from setting a fund raising goal – and from asking for specific donations in general–is telling of how significant an investment this project truly is. So although GW is not facing the dire situation of appealing to donors for financial aid, administrators and Board members have fortunately realized that the SEC is probably relatively low on donors’ lists of possible expenses.