Dear editor,
Among the deluge of related alumni junk-mail one recieves after they graduate, I recieved a credit card solicitation from a presumably wholesale marketing list dump. This solicitation reads: “You worked hard to get this far, show your school spirit by accepting our pre-approved card with the University of Utah alumni association style.” Ok, maybe I can make up for school spirit-never-posessed-post mortarboard.”Maybe it’d help in networking to find a job”, the little advertising spyware implanted in my brain remarked, so I went for it. Eagerly awaiting the fruits prepared for me by the clever credit card marketers, I recieved the stiff envelope a few weeks later. I opened it and was reaching for the phone to call to activate when I read that I was assigned a 36% interest rate! Holy cow, they have sunk to a new low…or high depending on your vantage point. I hung up. I am writing to ask those involved with the alumni association if they know they are aware of Mastercard using them for as a pseudo endorsement for full-fledged credit bludgeoning? Do you students realize how much comsumer debt you are in, or take the time to realize the actual cost of that charged trip to vegas, weekly pizza, or futon? This was a wake up call to me about the evasive and misleading pitches by these companies. I am proud to say that U of U Alumni Association Mastercard will never be activated.
Tyler ColeWashington D.C.Class of 2003/[email protected]