Want an iPod? Attend Duke and get one for free.

FREE: iPods, cell phones, tablet PCs, electronic day planners and more!

These are just a few of the welcome gifts that freshmen across the nation received when they arrived at school this fall, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Of course, these items are only being used strictly for academic purposes. Yeah, right.

The freebies that some schools gave to students this year escalated from the common laptop to the hottest new tech-toy: the iPod.

Freshmen at Duke University received a brand new iPod with the school crest and “Duke University Class of 2008” engraved on the back of each “educational tool.”

Along with the iPod, each of the 1,600 freshmen received a $35 sound recording device that they can use to record their class lectures and download them to their computers.

Or, as the intelligent freshman may discover, to record the lecture for a “sick” friend who could not make it to class. The possibilities are endless.

The free iPods, which many people are calling a publicity stunt, cost Duke University approximately $500,000.

The money came from a fund specifically set aside for this one-time iPod project that was initiated in hopes of “gearing up [Duke’s] commitment to technology in education,” said Peter Lange, Duke’s provost.

With schools across the nation raising the bar to show that their university is technologically savvy, one is left to wonder where the line will be drawn.

Here at Fairfield, it seems the limit has already been established. No such money is being spent on giveaways.

With students constantly citing raises in tuition, costly mistakes in construction like Lessing Field, forced freshmen triples and juniors stuck in the suites, a lack of financial aid, an insufficient Rec Plex, and a host of other financial grievances, the student and parent outcry that may come with such a giveaway may be inevitable when there are many wanting and needy areas on campus to begin with.

A number of students feel giveaways are unnecessary.

“I have a friend who went to Duke and received his iPod over the summer. I wish I got one, but it’s not a necessary factor,” said Sean McGonigle ’08. “It’s an added bonus to get something like that, but not something you base your college decision on.”

Yet some students feel Fairfield could benefit from giving free gifts to students and emulating other universities in attracting students and showcasing Fairfield’s desire to have a technologically advanced campus.

“Giveaways would be more of a draw than the new grand entrance,” said Ben Manchak ’05. “I think kids would rather show up to a new iPod than a whole lot of cedar woodchips.”

Fairfield admissions was unavailable for comment on any past attempts or future plans for free giveaways at this university.

For now, Fairfield students will have to buy their own iPods, laptops, and school- related tech-toys, or maybe transfer to Duke.

Perhaps they can find some consolation in their free copy of the Student Handbook and newly designed Stagcard.