Will that be cash, check or teddy bear?

Have you ever been caught participating in activities forbidden by Public Safety? Maybe you consumed an alcoholic beverage underage or hosted a party illegally?

Whatever the transgression, the resulting fines have students up in arms. But according to Dean of Students Thomas Pellegrino, the Toys for Tots program and the eighth annual Teddy Bears with Love Drive are offering students an alternative.

Pellegrino said the administration is asking that students who are fined participate in one of the two programs, which bring new toys to local children’s charities.

“All fines which are collected through December 8, 2006, will be collected through teddy bears and toys,” he said.

Last Christmas, more than 500 teddy bears were collected and donated to children, many of which were donated by students who had been fined. This year, the SAA hopes to collect more than 1,000 bears from the University community.

Mike Putnum ’08, a recent recipient of a student conduct fine, thinks the use of programs that benefit the less fortunate is a great idea.

“The fact that we got fined is not good, but I’d rather see the money go towards toys and [teddy] bears for kids rather than back to the school,” he said.

The dean’s office holds the bears and toys for the SAA, which is in charge of the two programs in conjunction with the Office of Alumni Relations. The programs will be discontinued after Dec. 8, and fines will once again be paid in money.

Though many students applaud the University’s attention to charitable causes, other students, including Frank Fioretti ’10, are skeptical.

“If we gave the University the money and they bought the toys, then I’m sure it would be more productive. I buy some toys for $20, and then I buy one for like four bucks. It’s probably not fair to most of the kids. Plus, it’s a waste of my time,” said Fioretti.

Skip Russell ’07, however, is more concerned with the large amounts of student fines the University distributes.

“The fine is bad. The school fines people for everything,” said Russell, who faces possible townhouse eviction. “Kids already pay $40,000 to go here, and we’re always getting fined. Buying bears for charity is a good cause but not for more fine money.”