By HOLLY COX
There are many programs offered on the BYU campus for those students interested in volunteering their time.
Lisa Gregory never imagined she would become a hero, but after two years of volunteer work with the Children With Disabilities program, she has become more than just a hero. Gregory is now program director.
As a freshman, Gregory noticed the Children With Disabilities booth and signed up, committing to spend time at one of two schools involved in the volunteer program. Now this math education major heads the Children With Disabilities program which provides special needs children at Oakridge and Peterson Elementary Schools with help at lunch, in fulfilling individual goals, and on community outings.
A new employee of Tutoring Services, Brian Alconcel is surprised by the number of students willing to volunteer time.
“That’s what’s crazy — so many students are willing to come. At other universities, tutors are paid. Here, they’re not,” Alconcel said.
But according to Diane Numbers, an employee at the Campus Involvement Center and a junior studying Family Science, it comes as no surprise that students are willing to volunteer.
“We get a lot of students,” numbers said. “They come in looking for service, and we help them find something that interests them. We see a lot of groups and wards — like Priesthood service projects.”
The Campus Involvement Center has listings of both one-time projects and long-term service.
“Most companies and organizations want a six month commitment,” says Numbers, “but we have flyers posted here with one-time projects, and we have a hotline, ‘Service to Go,’ for groups and wards.”
In fact, the Campus Involvement Center is expanding its services to involve a new facet of service, “service learning.” A new center, whose main purpose will be to provide professors and their students with service learning opportunities, will soon be opening up in the Wilkinson Center across from Zuka Juice.
Jon Cau, the head of the Campus Involvement Center, says that the new extension will most likely be named the “Jacobsen Center for Service and Learning” in honor of Florence S. Jacobsen, former president of the LDS Young Women’s Association. The name is pending permission from Jacobsen.
Some students feel, however, that service isn’t always easy. Lindsay Palmer, a sophomore studying broadcast journalism, says that she has not been involved for one reason simple reason.
“I don’t have a car,” Plamer said. “There is almost nothing available here on campus, so I can’t do service.”
Michael Johnson, a computer science major from Heidelberg, Germany found service of a different kind.
“I wanted to do some kind of service,” says Johnson, “but I didn’t want to do something where I had to look for different things to do each week. Some guy in my ward talked about working at the temple, and I thought that was cool.” After Johnson spoke with his bishop and the Provo temple presidency, he worked five hours a week in the temple during 1998 Spring and Summer Terms.
Despite doubts, even those students who may not be able to leave campus can find opportunities to serve nearby.
Sara Finlayson, a sophomore from Columbus, Ohio, is involved with the Student Leadership organization.
“There’s a bunch of service opportunities,” says Finlayson, “there is one department that is just community service.”
There are many opportunities through Student Leadership, Tutoring Services, and BYUSA, as well as individual clubs and the Campus Involvement Center, Finlayson said.
For students interested in volunteering, several websites can be consulted for ideas. BYUSA involvement information can be found at http://byusa.stlife.byu.edu, and a list of clubs and service can be found at http://www.byu.edu/stlife/campuslife/cic/front/cicmain.htm. Students can also visit the BYUSA offices on the third floor of the Wilkinson Center or the Campus Involvement Center across from the Cougar Eat.
