Volume 124 Issue 2
kansan.com
TAKING CHARGE
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Lawrence leads Manhattan in
energy conservation competition
INK
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011
PAGE 51
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Students spend summer helping others
CHRISTY NUTT editor@kansan.com
Two things surprised Keri Schreiner while volunteering in Galveston, Texas — the amount of destruction still left in the town nearly three years after Hurricane Ike, and the amount of compassion among the community.
"Some people lost everything, but they still had a sense of giving and community," Schreiner, a senior from Shelbville, Kv. said.
Schreiner said one woman was more worried about her neighbor's electricity getting turned on than the work the students were doing to fix her corroded porch.
The experience made Schreiner realize how fortunate she is and the importance of giving to others, she said.
"The trip changed my mind about what I want to do in life. One thing I know is that volunteer work will always be a part of my life" Schreiner said.
Schreiner is just one of the 40 KU students who volunteered as part of the summer Alternative Break program, said Stephanie Jian, Alternative Break co-director. Five different groups of KU volunteers traveled to five states. The students left on May 23 for a week of volunteer work, Melanie Gorges, the program's summer coordinator, said.
The summer volunteer work ranged from environmental conservation in Flamingo, Fla., to youth education at
the Cheyenne River Reservations in
Eagle Butte, S.D., Gorges said.
The volunteer trips are a lot of fun but also a lot of hard work, Gorges said.
"If volunteering is not your thing, then I wouldn't suggest it because it is a week of full-fledged work," Gorges said.
Schreiner said her group would often work nine hours a day in the Texas heat. The work was not only physical but also emotionally challenging, she said.
Participants must take a weekly class for 2-4 weeks to prepare them for the work, but the experience is also very rewarding, Gorges said.
Students can apply to earn honor credits by participating in the program and completing the preparatory classes.
"It is a really cool way to have a real-life experience outside the classroom with other KU students while you are seeing the world." Gorges said.
In addition to paying for the cost of tuition, students must complete a final paper and a few reflective writings. Gorges said.
About half of participants took advantage of the honor credit, Gorges said.
The cost for students to participate in the summer alternative break without accounting for the honor credit was between $275 and $375 depending on the site location. The participation fee pays for gas and basic accommodations, Gorges said.
There are partial scholarships and payment plans available for students that can't afford the participation fee, Jian said.
Students can participate in weekend trips through the Alternative Break program as well as the summer, winter and spring trips.
Jian said more weekend trips will be scheduled next year than in previous years. The weekend trips will start on Aug.27.
"We are extending the program a lot next year. We will have weekend trips almost every weekend during the school year," Jian said.
The additional weekend trips will help accommodate the some 300 incoming honors freshman that must complete one honorary credit hour outside of the classroom, Jian said.
The program is accepting applications for weekend breaks now. Applications are available on the Alternative Breaks website.
For most weekend trips students spend one day volunteering at organizations in Lawrence or Kansas City, Jian said.
Weekend trips cost $5 to $10.
"If you have never done volunteer work before, it is a cool way to get started," Gorges said.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Chris Wichman volunteers in Galveston earlier this summer as part of the Alternative Breaks program.
SUMMER VOLUNTEER SITES
Down Syndrome Association, Cincinnati, Ohio
The Down Syndrome Association works to empower people with Down syndrome and educate their families.
Cheyenne River Youth Project, Eagle Butte, S.D. This organization provides aid to children of Cheyenne River Reservation. The Reservation is located in one of the nation's poorest counties.
Catalina Environmental Leadership Program, Santa Catalina Island, Calif.
With the Catalina Environmental Leadership Program,
KU students educated youth about environmental sustainability.
One Mission: Galveston, Galveston, Texas
One Mission: Galveston helps the Galveston community rebuild their lives after Hurricane Ike by providing labor and support.
Everglades National Park. Flamingo, Fla.
Volunteers worked to maintain the diverse ecosystem at the Everglades National Park, which is the third largest national park in the country.
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bookstore recently began offering price comparisons between its own prices, Amazon.com and Half. com.
"There was one student that said, 'It was the best idea that KU has ever had.' Rourke said."
Rentals cost 61 percent less than new print textbooks and could reduce the yearly amount spent on textbooks, according to Student PIRGs, an organization consisting of college students that looks at the rising cost of college.
But while students can save money renting or buying online, the bookstore prides itself on being there for students even after they've bought their textbooks.
Renting textbooks has also become a more popular option among students.
"We are the non-profit store for the University," Rourke said. "Every profit that we make goes right back into student success such as the Student Union Activities (SUA) and the campus radio station,
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CLASSIFIEDS 2B
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Don't forget
Stroda is editor-in-chief of The University Daily Kansan. She is a senior from Salina.
out the day to bring news to students and alumni.
Another change will debut on Friday, Sept. 2 before Kansas takes on McNeese State at Memorial Stadium. Friday games before home football games will have an expanded sports section sponsored by the Wave, our sports magazine, and will include game predictions and analysis. The paper will be tabloid-style like Jayplay, our weekly lifestyle magazine, and don't worry, we'll still have our regular news, opinion and entertainment content.
Today is the first day of classes. Don't forget to go to yours or you could fail.
Facebook page, too.
Today's Weather
Forces done by
University students. For
a more detailed listing,
see page 24.
HI: 92
LO: 71
it least it's not 10
at least it's not 100!