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 Plan How the Third Alternative planned to save Duquesne. The Context The national events taking place during the Third Alternative's campaign and how they affected the movement. 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 Public

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Although the Third Alternative was a student led movement, their collaboration with the public was a large part of the movement’s success. The students worked with the local government and Pittsburgh organizations to expand the group’s reach, which gave them more publicity and increased donations. County Commissioner Chairman Leonard Staisey served as the honorary co-chairman of the Third Alternative, and helped secure permits to canvass local neighborhoods. He also hosted a variety of benefits for the movement, including one at his fiftieth birthday party. Local foundations also chipped in, contributing hundreds of thousands of dollars to the campaign. The Richard King Mellon Foundation offered a matching grant of up to a million dollars, and gave $300,000 in matching funds, making up a large part of the total money raised. ALCOA went beyond monetary donations, and lit up their Mt. Washington sign to read, “Help Duquesne U.”

The Third Alternative also initiated an intense media campaign to get the word out about their fundraising efforts, and received help from local marketing agencies and radio and news stations. The Third Alternative worked closely with local media to spread awareness of their campaign, and received free coverage on local television and radio stations. President McAnulty appeared on local television shows to talk about the Third Alternative, and the movement’s progress was tracked in local papers. The Third Alternative even gained national coverage, and was highlighted in publications such as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

Students reported that the public reacted positively to their fundraising efforts, and were willing to help through donating money, and giving their resources and time to help the movement. Local residents donated anywhere from fifty cents to thousands of dollars to the cause, and were vocal about their support for Duquesne through writing dozens of letters to the movement. At that time there was a large Catholic community in Pittsburgh, with which Duquesne had a strong connection. Students gave talks at local churches, and parishes collected money at their weekly services for the movement. The university also had a large group of local alumni to solicit for donations and help, which strengthened its movement. Duquesne had a good reputation in the city, and the Pittsburgh community was appreciative of the students’ efforts to support their school. The Third Alternative was likewise thankful for the public’s cooperation and monetary support, as the movement may not have been as successful without the city’s help.

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  1. Welcome Lauren Eisenhart-Purvis

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