McCarthy, who says he has donated money to political campaigns since he became old enough to vote, says that people wanting to contribute to politics but who have limited free time should consider how their skills would provide the most influence. He says that written editorials, lectures to specific groups of people, and monetary donations are all valuable contributions to the political process.

"I would like to think that the written word rather than money would be more effective," he says.

But Kloppenberg says that financial support can be both more effective and feasible.

"I feel that the most direct kind of candidate support is the financial support of a campaign," Kloppenberg said.

Faculty Political Support of the Past

But a lack of time has not always been the motivation to donate money to political campaigns or issues.

Kloppenberg says that his first monetary donation to a candidate was in support of McGovern for President in 1972 when he was an undergraduate at Dartmouth College.

"I think my $25 donation was more of a symbolic gesture than anything else," he says. "I was just doing my part to keep his campaign from being extinguished."