With the ongoing concerns over global warming and its relationship with the environment, Virginia Commonwealth University seems to have a relatively untapped opportunity in the form of community service.
One opportunity for service entails the ecosystem. The James River Park System is a 550-acre park that extends from the West End at the Huguenot flat-water landing all the way to Ancarrow’s Landing, the latter of which is located at the far eastern end of Maury Street. Being situated on the James River, the park represents one of the city’s last extensive “wilderness” areas.
I always manage to carry a bag of some sort to the park whenever I visit and spend about 10 minutes taking care of litter. However, like all students, I am generally pressed for time and cannot dedicate a full day on a somewhat regular basis to keeping the park clean. That is why I am interested in getting students involved in community service.
There are a number ways that this task can be accomplished, each of which vary in degree of school support. First, clubs and organizations can set aside an hour or two on any day during a weekend or an off day in which to complete community service. (For example, as president of the Pre-Law Society, I am working on including a small amount of community service per semester as part of membership).
Second, the school might consider setting up a requirement or elective for community service involvement. For instance, a senior may graduate if he or she has completed a certain amount of community service in the four years of enrollment at the university. Last but not least, the Presidential Roundtable, a function of the Student Government Association, should shift a higher degree of focus on community service opportunities. At the same time, perhaps a part of the appropriations process for organizations can somehow be tied into community service participation (i.e. a merit-based system) on a small level, if at all possible.
Community service not only helps the community but also helps the student become familiarized with the areas around the university, not to mention that such service does not look bad on a resume or graduate school application. Whether or not you are in a student organization, please try to make a major difference in your surroundings.
– Robert J. Smith III