United Way Deans' Challenge: Who will take home the turtle?

What’s green, clocks in at 18-kg and is highly coveted amongst Dalhousie deans?

Surprisingly, it’s an unnamed ceramic turtle – and he’s up for grabs yet again this year.

The turtle, otherwise known as the United Way turtle trophy, is part of the United Way Dean’s Challenge and is awarded to the faculty that raises the most money during the campaign ‘blitz’ period. The winner is determined based on a mathematical formula that calculates participation rate: the number of donors within a department (relative to the number of employees within said department) as well as portion rate: how much of the overall university donations can be attributed to the department.  

Taking on Dentistry dominance

For three out of the past four years, the turtle has called the Faculty of Dentistry home. In fact, carting around the prize has become so familiar to Dean Tom Boran that he purchased a carrying case – complete with wheels – for easy turtle-transport around campus.

So what’s the key to the Faculty of Dentistry’s success? Dean Boran chalks it up to an overwhelming desire on the part of his faculty to support the community, involving as many staff members and students as possible, and a truly amazing organizing committee.

“At this point, the turtle is considered part of our faculty family,” says Boran.

Ready for a showdown

So do any other faculties stand a chance? Head librarian Donna Bourne-Tyson seems to think so.

“Now that we’ve for their guard down [Faculty of Dentistry], it’s going to be easy for us to turn the page and return the turtle to the Libraries,” explains Bourne-Tyson. “It’s something that’s long overdue.”

The team at Dal Libraries last laid claim to the honour of turtle touters in 2009.

“Everyone in the Dal Libraries is very involved in the community,” says Bourne-Tyson. “The United Way is recognized as a great institution which helps people to help themselves – something we do at the Libraries every day.”

While the Dalhousie United Way campaign blitz comes to a close Friday, October 26, staff and faculty members are still able to donate, and help move Dalhousie closer to its fundraising goal of $200,000. Donations can be made by printing off a paper pledge form and submitting to Financial Services in the Henry Hicks building, or through the secure United Way donation website.