Reflection

Our class seemed generally to doubt AU's motivation for its 35 million dollar donation to WAMU. There must to be an ulterior motive, American has to be getting something out of the deal. I am sure that our school's leadership knows what it is doing; AU most certainly will benefit in some way. However, I do not believe that self-interest needs to be the force shaping AU's policy, not anyone's. Instead of maintaing that charity and civic duty are viable only because the participant may get something out of it, why not instead consider that doing acts of good inherently benefits all parties involved. Our society does not need to be "zero-sum" if people abandon the mentality that other people's gains are their losses- the rich do not need to get richer only at the cost of the poor getting poorer.

People, and entities like American University, need not lead a Ted Oster lifestyle, where the only good is what immediately benefits you. That will only lead to a reduction is what political scientist Robert Putnam calls "social capital," the important, mutually beneficial relationships forged among community members. Civic engagement does not need to decline as it has. It just takes effort, something that Americans are too eager to avoid. I hope that my school is making an effort to benefit its community and create greater social capital. I would be proud to know that the university I atend is standing as a role model for other institutions and members of all their communities.