Cornell needs money and it needs money now. As evidenced by Sanford Weill’s announcement yesterday that he has made a generous advanced payment of $170 million to the Medical College, Cornell's campuses are strapped for cash and are looking for ways to make up for the billions lost.

We applaud President Skorton's success in soliciting the donation from Weill. But we doubt that it will be the president who will pick up the phone to add that personal touch to every donor solicitation.

The importance of philanthropic donations in the coming months will be critical, and we hope Weill’s move irked many to realize this. Today, most Cornell families are suffering from the same belt-tightening that is occurring throughout the world. It is therefore our hope that Cornell sees now as a more important time than ever to revamp its approach to soliciting alumni donations.

A week ago, The Sun reported that a massive reorganization of the Alumni Affairs and Development Office cost 41 people their jobs. An 18 month "strategic planning" process eliminated 76 job positions and additionally closed all of AAD's regional offices except for their post in New York City. According to the AAD, the overhaul was a longer-term goal meant to make their mission more efficient.

We truly hope that the restructuring meant more than saving the University the cost of 41 salaries. Weill's donation showed that despite the economic storm, there are still people willing to give, and thus the University must up its commitment to alumni.

As Skorton has pointed out in the past, smaller alumni donations are just as important in these times of need. Lesser donations that come in the form of scholarships, for instance, can be extremely valuable in today's world, as investors have little confidence in throwing a lump sum donation into an endowment that is steadily shrinking.

Former Provost Biddy Martin has looked to new ways of soliciting additional cash at the University of Wisconsin. Martin, who is ending her first year as chancellor of the university, has proposed tacking on a supplemental fee for all students in an effort to both improve academics and broaden access to higher education by assisting financial aid.

Cornell must seek such innovative ways to improve its fundraising initiatives. Weill's generosity offered an extraordinary boost of confidence in what are otherwise trying times. With the challenges presented by today's economic climate, the University must ensure that it is most effectively allocating its limited resources for soliciting philanthropy.