Brown Ink Society continues mission to help students in financial need

Before he passed away in 1998 from a heart attack and cancer, Steve Hollander was known for marking his students’ papers using brown ink. Throughout a 30-year career, the professor in the Department of English and Linguistics also built a reputation for helping with minor emergencies by offering financial assistance.

“He wouldn’t boast about it, but as his very, very close friend, sometimes I would know the story of how he helped a student who needed a tire or they couldn’t get to school,” said David Young, professor emeritus of psychology. “He would take care of it. He was close with the students, and he cared.”

Hollander’s friends and colleagues founded the Brown Ink Society in 2000 to honor him and further the cause. Since then, the society has awarded 468 students a total of $186,533 to aid with small emergencies. The money can’t be used for tuition, books, or meal plans. Last year, $16,892 was distributed to 32 students.

Examples include helping students with broken eyeglasses, car repairs, emergency housing, and even cancer treatments. Money is raised through charitable donations from PFW faculty, staff, and community members. Students are allowed to receive $575 per semester and must be nominated by an instructor or staff member.

Faculty or staff members who become aware of a student who fits the circumstances should contact Teri Luce or Michele Shawver including the student’s name and email address, amount requested up to $575, and an explanation of the student’s situation and need for an emergency grant.

“Thank you so much for your kindness and understanding in my time of need,” an undergraduate recipient wrote in a note. “With your funding, I was able to pull myself up a little bit and take some of the stress of life off my shoulders. This is a great thing you are doing and it really does give a boost of hope when I was struggling.”

Ann Livschiz, associate chair and associate professor in the Department of History, serves as president, with Luce, administrative assistant in the Department of History, Department of Political Science, and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program, and Shawver, director of the Chapman Scholars and Summit Scholars programs, serving as co-secretary and co-treasurer.

The other board members are Ron Friedman, dean of the College of Science; John O’Connell, dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts; Cheryl Truesdell, retired dean of Helmke Library; Georgia Wralstad Ulmschneider, emeritus associate professor in the Department of Political Science; Michelle Kelsey, associate professor and chair of the Department of Communication; William Ramsey, Hollander’s godson and son of society founder Rick Ramsey, and a partner from Barrett McNagny.  

Brown Ink Society board members put together a guide to additional campus and community resources, including the Friends of the University Pantry, the Center for Student Counseling, and the Center for Healthy Living. Each nominee is presented with a copy. Once the board approves a grant, the student receives a check from the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne.

“I really love the aspect of helping people overcome a small or large type of situation that helps them continue on to be successful and graduate,” Shawver said. “It is incredibly rewarding to know you are giving them that extra little step up. It’s not a handout, but something that will help them be more successful, and hopefully, in the future they pay it forward.”

The Brown Ink Society will host a fundraising event called “Raise the Curtain, Raise Support” on Nov. 17 at noon in the PFW Visual and Performing Arts Building. Donors who purchase the $50 ticket will also receive a free ticket to the 2 p.m. Department of Theatre’s presentation of “Cabaret” at Williams Theatre.