The Third Alternative: The Oral History of Duquesne University's Third Alternative Main Menu The Narrators Meet the interviewees behind the Third Alternative Oral History Project. The Problem A brief history of Duquesne's financial crisis. The Context The national events taking place during the Third Alternative's campaign and how they affected the movement. The Public How the public of Pittsburgh interacted with and helped the Third Alternative. The Effect The impact the Third Alternative left on Duquesne. Neighborhood Canvassing A timeline of the Third Alternative canvassing campaign. Maps Maps relating to the Thank You March and events at Duquesne University during the Third Alternative. The Interviewers Meet the students behind the Third Alternative Oral History Project. Media Check out our photograph collection and our documentary!

The Plan

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This group of students that called themselves the Third Alternative were initially composed of members of Student Government and other campus organizations. They were led by Rita Ferko and Patrick Joyce, who were inspired by the atmosphere of student involvement and responsibility in the early 1970s. Their goal was to raise a million dollars in order to keep Duquesne open and affordable. The group approached Fr. Henry J. McAnulty, the university president, with their plan, and he agreed to let them start this movement. Their first step was to inform Duquesne students and staff about the financial situation. The Third Alternative was concerned about transparency from the start, and so had Fr. McAnulty call for a campus-wide meeting in April 1970 to address students, faculty, and staff. He outlined the financial crisis in detail, and then Rita spoke about the students’ idea to save the school. Hundreds of students signed up to volunteer and help with the Third Alternative that day; kicking off the beginning of the movement.

Over the summer, the leaders of the movement worked on their plan to raise a million dollars. They started the campaign with a phonathon in June, and helped the administration trim the budget to create a small surplus. When students returned to campus in the fall, the Third Alternative began a massive canvassing campaign that covered the entire Pittsburgh area. The focus of this campaign was encouraging people to “be one in a million,” with a goal of collecting at least one dollar from each person they interacted with. Students from all over the city mapped out neighborhoods, were loaded onto busses, and walked the streets collecting donations. The students were warmly received by local neighborhoods and their citizens, and tens of thousands of dollars was raised through this canvassing campaign. The Third Alternative concluded its canvassing campaign in November with a 94.6 mile march from Altoona to Pittsburgh; the distance that one million dollar bills would cover if they were laid end to end. The march was a symbol of the movement’s gratitude to all the Pittsburgh area residents who donated. As those students marched from Altoona, many other students marched through the neighborhoods they canvassed. The movement supplemented their canvassing efforts by writing to local alumni, corporations, and foundations to solicit donations.

The Third Alternative also raised money through special events during the 1970-1971 school year, including raffles, speaking tours, and fundraisers during Homecoming and other sporting events. This movement incorporated many organizations and groups on campus, making the student body feel involved in the movement and its accomplishments. The Third Alternative also collaborated closely with community leaders, local media, and organizations of Pittsburgh. This cooperation with local leaders and spreading of goodwill helped lead to the success of their fundraising campaign.
 

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