Some University of Memphis students have grown accustomed to hearing about Memphis's ranking as the fourth-most dangerous American city with populations of 500,000 or more, its number four ranking in obesity or its title as 18th worst in quality of air.
Other equally critical statistics are heard frequently, casting the Bluff City in a negative light.
However, there is some positive for the city. According to The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Memphis ties for fifth with the Dallas/Fort Worth area in citizens giving 8.4 percent of their disposable income to charity.
"I think Memphis is the hub of the Mid-South," said Bill E. Lawson, a U of M philosophy professor. "We have so many people from the Mid-South coming in, we have a connection. I think that is why we feel like helping."
The state of Tennessee is also fourth in the nation for charitable claims on its tax returns, according to an IRS study on 2003 tax returns.
April Gardner, a senior philosophy major, said the stat gives validation to the state's nickname.
"It's probably because we are called the Volunteer State," she said.
The nickname "Volunteer" came about because the unexpected number of Tennesseans who volunteered for battle in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Texas Revolution and especially the Mexican War.
Gardner has been a volunteer for charities like the Sierra Club, an organization dedicated to a cleaner environment, before starting high school.
"I am inspired by the look on people's faces," she said. "They are excited because someone actually stopped to teach them things about nature."
She admitted that in the past year, doing charity became difficult due to time conflicts.
"This past year, it hasn't been so often because of school," Gardner said.
Nhung Nguyen, a sophomore business finance major, also said another problem was money.
"It's hard because I am a student and we have to pay for books and work part-time," Nguyen said.
She said that she gives when she can to organizations such as the Salvation Army.
Hurricane Katrina provided proof that the city of Memphis is indeed a giving one.
"I have a friend whose church made it mandatory for each member of the congregation to take in at least a couple of people," Gardner said.
Lawson also said the Memphis media has not made nearly as many negative comments about Hurricane Katrina evacuees like other cities haves.
"It is interesting how people were willing to take in Katrina victims in Memphis," he said.
Lawson also said this would make a fascinating research topic for the savvy researcher.
"This phenomenon in Tennessee and the city of Memphis would make for a good psychological and sociological research project," he said.
