Section A·Page 14
The University Daily Kansan
Monday, August 17, 1998
Students reach out through volunteer program
University group volunteers time services to area
By Pallavi Agarwal Kansan staff writer
Scott Hendrix, Lawrence graduate student, helped 30 other Center for Community Outreach volunteers cook 230 meals a day this summer for Lawrence school children from low-income families.
With more than 2,000 volunteers, 12 programs and two new upcoming programs, the Center of Community Outreach, 426 Kansas Union, calls itself "KU's Volunteer Headquarters."
Last academic year, the center was
the fourth-largest student organization on campus.
Julie Merz, Manchester, Mo., sophomore, spent last spring "totally immersed" in service at a homeless shelter in Washington, D.C.
Others served on boards of local government and nonprofit agencies, helped people with disabilities connect with college students or helped incoming freshman and transfer students feel at home at the University.
"The purpose of the organization is to recruit volunteers for various community projects or provide them with opportunities to participate in non-profit agencies," said Chris Hess, organization co-director.
Students felt a sense of accomplishment, developed contacts with off-campus organizations and tied classroom learning with some real-world experience, said Hendrix, who also is the coordinator for Students Tutoring for
"The purpose of the organization is to recruit,polunteers for various community projects or provide them with opportunities to participate in nonprofit agencies."
Outreach co-director
Chris Hess
Center for Community Outreach
Literacy, one of the more popular programs run by the organization to help impart functional literacy to community members.
Last year, Hendrix coordinated literacy programs in Lawrence elementary schools such as Small World and Evening Star, and taught kids at the Juvenile Detention Center.
Phone: 864-4073
Office: 426 Kansas Union, located in the Student Organization and Leadership Development Center
Other popular programs to which the group sends volunteers are Alternative Spring Break, during which students travel to cities across the country doing hands-on community work, and helping with Jubilee Cafe, a Lawrence food kitchen where homeless people can "eat with dignity, order from menus and be served by waiters and waitresses," Hess said.
Merz, who volunteered for Alternative Spring Break in Washington, said that 50 students worked with homeless people in seven cities across the nation.
"We lived in homeless shelters worked at food kitchens," she said
"Another highlight of the trip was that we got to meet Kansas Congress people at the Capitol."
This fall, the center planned to embark on two new programs in which students could help kids perform plays and help bridge the intergenerational gap between the young and the old. Hess said.
Although future plans abound at the center, funding from the University had been becoming stagnant, Hendrix said.
Hendrix and Hess said that the center received $6,500 from the University but said that at other schools similar organizations were better funded.
"Service learning is a national movement." Hendrix said. "It is not something we are trying to push at KU. The University should give more money for community service learning which helps make education real for students."
OAKS provides support to nontraditional students
First newsletter discusses taxes campus news
By Pallavi Agarwal Kansan staff writer
Smith, OAKS co-director.
Though many groups at the University of Kansas are geared toward the average college student, nontraditional students need not feel left out.
The Organization of Adult Knowledge Seekers is a service and social club, providing relevant information and networking opportunities to nontraditional students, said Cathleen
Nontraditional students are not just the older classmates with spouses and children.
The University recognizes all veterans, students who are least three years older than their peers and students who commute at least 10 miles from home or work as nontraditional, said Laura Morgan, assistant director of the Student Development Center and OAKS adviser.
That qualifies more than 4,000 undergraduates on campus as nontraditional. Their problems range from a feeling of isolation to making a long-distance call each time they call the University from home or work, Morgan said.
"They may not be coming to campus very often and so find it difficult to connect to University life..."
Laura Morgan OAKS adviser
"These people lead adult, multiple roles," she said. "They don't hang around on campus. They may not be coming to campus very often and so find it difficult to connect to University life or get access to information on campus in advance."
During the last academic year, OAKS had a membership of 400 and was the 12th-largest student
organization on campus among 391 organizations registered with the Student Organization and Leadership Development Center.
A large part of the group's activities is providing information to its members through newsletters and e-mail messages.
The first newsletter this semester contains information on campus parking, tax filing, scholarships, baby-sitting and child-care information, relevant campus telephone numbers, tutoring and information about campus services that could be of use to nontraditional students.
The newsletter, which is issued twice every semester, is
mailed to all nontraditional undergraduates enrolled on campus, Morgan said.
Group members try to meet during brown-bag lunches, picnics, orientation lunches and other group activities.
The turnout at several social activities has not been promising, however.
"It's nice to know that someone is out there," said Joanna Luft, Topeka sophomore.
"Every time we have a social event, very few people turn up," Luft said. "Our end-of-semester party at Dos Hombres last December was a success, but our picnic at the end of finals in May flopped. In a way, the low turnout is understandable as
OAKS
Phone: 864-7317
Office: 400 Kansas Union, Workstation F
several of our members have parenting responsibilities."
Group support services, such as cooperative baby-sitting, began during midterms and finals but did not work because no parents showed up, said LaShawna Harris, OAKS Single Parent Support Coordinator.
OAK3 members are working to make the group more cohesive and visible on campus.
"Several of our own members do not know each other, so we have prepared T-shirts and buttons," Smith said.
The Etc. Shop
DKNY
928 Mass. 843-0611
Apa Dana Oriental Rug Gallery, Inc. BACK TO SCHOOL SALE
Dorm Rugs:
7 x 10 $179
6 x 9 $139
Selected Handmade Rugs 40%-60%Off
Selected Handmade Rugs 40%-60%Off
KIEF'S Audio/Video 24th & Iowa, Lawrence, KS. Look For These Sale Price Tags! Many tagged items Below Cost 48 Hour Buy Back Guarantee BLOW-OUT SALE
- Beautify Your Home with an Oriental Rug
- Kansas' Most Reputable Oriental Rug Dealer
- Best Selection in the Midwest
- Lowest Price for Quality
*Buy-Trade-Sell-Traditional Handwash & Baths*
- Expert Appraising by Baman RaisDana in the rug business since 1967
- All Purchases may be exchanged for full credit at any time, a guarantee we've extended to all our customers throughout US for the past 23 years.
Restore
- We pay topdollar for your old rug, whether you purchased it from us or not.
1901 Mass.Corner of 19th & Mass. 841-4141
2907 SW 29th St.
Brookwood Shopping Ctr.
272-1111
Lawrence
1-800-496-RUGS
Wichita
Topeka
1312 East Douglas
lguana wanna
hava funna
We are located in the Hillcrest Shopping Center right across the street from the bowling alley. 925 Iowa St. 749-1666
Wed.
$1.50 Pints
including Guiness & Newcastle
$2 Micros & Imports
Mon. $1.50 Domestic Btls
Thurs.
$1.50 Corona
Fri.
All Shots $2
Sat.
$1.50 Wells
20th Anniversary Specials
At the "Top of the Hill" we have what you need for:
classes, living decorre, gift ideas, computer needs coupon books, KU garments, lab/ art/ engineering dark room supplies, study aids. As well as postage stamps, copier, fax, and ATM service.
Your top source for NEW & USED books:
- Pre-order express line
- Jayhawk Kansas Card acceptance
$2 Off every
book over $20 (Max 10 books)
1978
Jayhawk Bookstore
1420Crescent Road Lawrence Kansas 66044
(785)843-3826 Fax (785)843-9578
www.jayhawkbookstore.com