Newspapers / Elon University Student Newspaper / March 20, 2003, edition 1 / Page 12
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Page 12 • Thursday, March 20, 2003 Features The Pendulum Students choose service, work during spring breal Two service-learning trips offer a chance to build houses and see different points of view Kathleen Frey Features Editor Some students plan to spend the next week near pristine, white beaches in the Dominican Republic. Others will travel to Charleston, a quaint city on the coast of South Carolina However, there will be little time for relaxation. The primary activity of these Service Learning-sponsored spring breaks will be building houses. Kathy Manning, director of the Kernodle Center for Service Learning, will accompany 10 stu dents on the program’s first inter national spring break service trip to the Dominican Republic. “My hope for students is to have an experience in a culture outside of the United States and to see first-hand the conditions peo ple are living in,” said Manning. The group will be staying in Uarahona, whose population nears 75,000. Habitat for Humanity began building the country’s first Habitat homes there in 1987. Each day students will travel seven miles to the construction site located in the tiny village of Jaquineyes. The workday will begin at 8 a.m. and last until 4 p.m. each day. The group will be constructing houses with concrete walls and roofs due to the fre quent hurricanes that sweep across the island. Manning said students have worked hard to raise money for the lodging and transportation expenses. Erin Lawless, a senior Biology major and sociology minor, has participated in every spring break service trip since her freshman year. “A service trip for spring break is very fulfilling," she said. “It is a genuine experience you cannot get any way else.” Lawless, who helped build a Habitat house in Guatemala dur ing winter terni, has prepared for the trip with visits to El Centro de Espanol. She has also traveled to Spain, Ireland, Ghana and West Africa, SjUjkB Photo By Kathy Manning Kathy Manning, director of Service Learning, said Bon students in the Dominican Republic will work with con crete blocks to build hurricane-resistant homes. Habitat construction will begin at 8 a.m. and last until 4 p.m. “I decided to go to the Dominican Republic for a new place to see and for more Habitat experiences,” she said. Gregory Halstead said he never misses an opportunity to travel abroad. The junior econom ics and psychology double-major studied business for one semester in Uruguay and learned “how to live as an Uruguayan.” “After seeing that people do have negative feelings about our culture, our USA bubble and its effects on others...! think it is so important that wc fight terrorism with peaceful actions,” said Halstead. He said his biggest challenge on the trip will be learn ing about the native Dominicans’ lives, struggles and celebrations. While some students are trav eling abroad for service, nine oth ers are driving four hours down the road to Mt. Pleasant, S.C. to work with the United Methodist Relief Center volunteer program. The UMRC is an organization dedicated to rebuilding and replacing dilapidated houses of low-income families in the Charleston city area. Freshman Jonathan Alcshire, who is the co-organizational liai son leader in the Elon Volunteers! office, helped plan the trip to give students another service opportu nity over spring break. According to Jess Snow, the trip’s student leader and staff pho tographer, the Elon service proj ect could involve “anything from painting to installing insulation or putting up drywall.” All of the students and the trip’s adviser, Steve Anderson, assistant director of Residence Life, will live in the Volunteer House during their week-long visit. The thrce-story, dormitory- style building is equipped with a full kitchen and the students will cook many of their meals there. Their workday will begin at 7:30 a.m. and end around 4 p.m. “I think this trip will be differ ent from a normal spring break trip because I have the opportuni ty to go out and help someone while having a lot of fun at the same time,” said Snow. The students will participate in nightly reflection sessions and then have free time to explore Charleston. “At the end of this spring break trip, I know 1 will have grown as a person far more than just lying on the beach for a week,” said Aleshire. Contact Kathleen Frey at pendii- lum((i}chn.cdu or 278-7247. Dominican Republic Santo Domingo -jl Jaquineyes Student Trip Leader: Doris Molina Town where house will be located: Jaquineyes Average temperature in March: 79 degrees South Carolina Charleston Student Trip Leader: Jess Snow Town where house will be located: Charleston area Average tempera ture in .March: 68 degrees See Campus Candids for more spring break trips p. 14
Elon University Student Newspaper
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March 20, 2003, edition 1
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