California State University-Fullerton sent an email Monday to potential donors addressing “estate plans” alongside a reminder that the school stands to lose some money when it refunds students for their parking permits and closes the on-campus Starbucks.

“Higher Education, like every sector of our economy, is affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Cal State Fullerton is no exception,” the email from the university’s Office of Planned Giving reads. “Although the full extent will not be known for some time, the Campus will likely experience a negative financial impact from the COVID-19 restrictions.”

“Refunds have been made to students for parking permits and housing, the campus will see a loss of revenue from campus-located vendors, such as Starbucks."

“Refunds have been made to students for parking permits and housing, the campus will see a loss of revenue from campus-located vendors, such as Starbucks, and, we will likely face a short-term decline in international student enrollments,“ the university continued.

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In light of this widespread stress, the Office of Planned Giving provided options to the recipients to create or restructure their wills, and a few touting some “handy estate and wills planning resources” offered by the university.

“During times like this, it is not unusual to think about our estate plans, either creating one or reviewing our current plan. It is normal to want to make sure our current plan reflects our wishes and plans for our family, represents our values, and, our charitable legacy. We would like to be a resource to you as you consider your planning. You may find www.csufplannedgiving.org a helpful resource,” wrote the university.

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The pairing of these two messages left a bad taste in the mouths of some who received the email.

CSUF alumnus Scott Lovelady told Campus Reform that the email sounded a lot like "please put us in your will before coronavirus kills you.”









Lovelady said he was in “disbelief” when he first saw the email, claiming that the college does not normally reach out requesting donations. “It is completely inappropriate to ask people to write them into their wills in response to a rather deadly pandemic sweeping the globe,” he said, calling the request “incredibly tone-deaf,” he said.

The email was sent just days after an estimated 3.5 million people filed for unemployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to median estimates from economists.

Given that many people are losing their jobs and income, requesting donations and to be written into the wills of financially distressed people who could also become sick or die from the coronavirus is “inappropriate,” explained Lovelady. “I have a few alumni friends living paycheck to paycheck that thought the email was pretty gross,” he said.

Campus Reform reached out to the director of CSUF Office of Planned Giving, Hart Roussel, but did not receive a response.

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The Office of University Development at Ole Miss recently sent out a similar message, requesting that students and graduates amend their wills to get donations.

“Sometimes situations change around us...In those times, it is beneficial revisiting the content of your will,” the message reads.

“By adding a bequest to your will, you guarantee that the priorities in your life are matched to your legacy. Also by expressing the philanthropic priorities of your life, you can continue investing in the students, faculty, mission and values of the University of Mississippi.”

The University of Mississippi claims their request was simply an ill-timed automated marketing email and was not meant to be in reference to coronavirus.

Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @Justin_Begley