Over a quiet breakfast at the Meeting Street Cafe Saturday morning, President Ruth Simmons denied rumors that her $20,007 donation to the senior class gift campaign - 10 times the amount she has given in the past - was an error.
"I'm 1,000 percent sure," she said. "I was truly inspired by this year's senior class."
Last year's class gift totaled about $19,000, including Simmons' $2,006 contribution.
Simmons elaborated on the various reasons for her increased generosity as she pulled a tip chart out of her purse, paused and put two $100 bills under the salt shaker, next to her empty coffee mug and half-eaten plate of eggs and toast. When asked whether she was always such a generous tipper, Simmons appeared startled and glanced again at the money on the table, but she quickly regained her composure and said through gritted teeth, "No, the service was truly inspiring."
Simmons said in her 50 years as president of the University, she has seen "literally billions" of students come and go and that this year's class has been one of the best.
Simmons then left the restaurant and got into her car, muttering that it was overdue for its 600,000-mile checkup.
