Class raises funds to help former GTA

When Mert Tokman, a former graduate teaching assistant in the business school's marketing department, heard the news of his father's death last April, it meant canceling class and flying on short notice from Birmingham to his hometown of Istanbul, Turkey, for the funeral.

While Tokman, who was a fifth-year Ph.D. student last spring, was gone for about a week, students collected more than $200 in cash to help ease the hefty purchase of a last-minute plane ticket and more than $200 in gift cards to local restaurants, so groceries would not be an immediate concern.

Julie McGinness, a marketing student who graduated in August, was the ringleader of the group, Tokman said. When she got word of what had happened from a classmate, she and the rest of the class agreed they wanted to do something for their professor.

After discussing with her classmates what would be an appropriate gift, McGinness said they realized that if everyone gave $5 they could collect about $400. McGinness then consulted Robert Morgan, department head of management and marketing in the College of Commerce and Business Administration. Morgan said he recommended setting up a collection box in the advising offices of Bidgood Hall.

McGinness said the students in the class gave freely, without any need for recognition.

"Even students that didn't know [Tokman] and just heard about what happened wanted to donate money," McGinness said. "I had people coming up to me asking, 'Where can I give money?'"

McGinness said the giving came from more than the classroom.

"It was one of those things that started out small and then blew up," McGinness said. "It was just going to be our marketing class that collected money. Then it expanded to the doctorate students. Then it expanded to past students and everyone that knows him."

Tokman, who is now on the marketing staff at James Madison University in Virginia, said he was touched and emotional when he received the gift after his return.

"I cried," he said. "It was a great gesture. Everyone thinks this generation is just more me, me and myself, but this was so thoughtful."

McGinness said helping someone in a time of need is not something that should be questioned. Her classmates felt that way too, she said.

"I think it is important to be there for people in a time of need, period," McGinness said. "Whether they are a teacher or a peer, if someone needs something, it is important for people to stand up and help."