Krispy Kreme have repeated the free donuts for graduates promotion they have run previously. The company has made the following announcement in relation to the offer:
“It’s been a tough year for this year’s graduates, marked by virtual learning, canceled sports, limited school activities, altered or eliminated proms, and nontraditional graduation ceremonies, we admire them, we’re proud of them, and we want to celebrate all of them.”
Following this announcement, from May 13 2021 students will be able to go to Krispy Kreme location in the United States in graduation outfits or Krispy Kreme "class of 2021" clothing and receive a "graduate dozen" donuts.
Not meaning to impugn Krispy Kreme's generosity, but this feels more like a consolation prize than anything substantial. In the United States the minimum most students will accrue in student debt is $37,500, a figure which does not represent more prestigious universities or more disadvantaged candidates. Nor does this reflect the nature of US student debt, such as that if they are required then repayment of them is unavoidable outside of income-driven repayment plans, and even then repayments will merely be frozen until individuals cease to be 150% of the poverty line.
Add to this a job market following the pandemic that will leave most graduates with very little hope of a work for some time, and the onward march of automation causing less jobs to be available, and this offer from Krispy Kreme smacks more of a cynical marketing ploy than any real interest to doing something positive for US students which could be achieved by a donation to a charity that provides outreach for those struggling with student debt.
Indeed, a more appropriate tagline could be "Just graduated? Drowning in debt? Can't find a job? Have a free donut!"
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