Miami Student

Issue date: 3/23/04 Section: Front Page

Alternative Spring Break trips offer students hands-on service or learning experiences and a chance for personal reflection."The goal of Alternative Spring Break is to offer an alternative to engaging in what is considered normal spring break activity," said Kat Cochrane-Yamaguchi, interim program coordinator for the Office of Service Learning and Civic Leadership.Miami University's Office of Service Learning and Civic Leadership sponsored four groups of students' trips this spring break. The group sponsors such trips to allow students the opportunity to leave the community and show they are engaging in meaningful service while learning why the service is needed, Cochrane-Yamaguchi said."It is a stepping stone in recognizing not just service, but the social issues behind it," she said.Students for Peace and Justice, in partnership with Witness for Peace, Alternative Spring Break, Pi Kappa Phi, Lights on Campus, and the Miami University Gospel Singers all went on trips that were partially funded through the Office of Service Learning and Civic Leadership.The Students for Peace and Justice traveled to Mexico, conversing with locals and learning about the culture.Alternative Spring Break sent students to three different locations - Miami, Savannah, Ga., Montreal and Toronto. Students in these areas were involved in a variety of outreach activities such as painting, gardening, mentoring, cleaning or helping in soup kitchens, said Trevor Hunt, president of Alternative Spring Break. Students worked with Catholic Charities, Volunteers of America, and Habitat for Humanity."We aim (to have) 25 to 30 hours of service work in our city, and the rest of the time can be used to take advantage of the city we are visiting," Hunt said. "There is definitely a good balance between service work and time for fun." Pi Kappa Phi went to Burton, Texas, to do construction and preparation work for Push Camp, part of Push America, an organization serving people with disabilities. "We hope to leave the camp in better condition than the way we left it," said Adam Solarz, chair of Push America. "But also, we hope to have successful activities with the campers and to continue to better the lives of people with disabilities." Pi Kappa Phi goes to Burton every year. Annual trips are an ideal situation because the agency can depend on the students' help, Cochrane-Yamaguchi said.Miami University Gospel Singers and Lights on Campus went to London.The groups renovated a church and hospital, worked at a homeless shelter, spent time at a children's camp and sang at area churches, said Patrick Alexander, spokesman for Miami University Gospel Singers. "I believe this is an opportunity for us to bond as a choir and grow and learn about the world and each other in the process," Alexander said.The students stayed in houses and churches in the area. After the grant from the Office of Service Learning and Civic Leadership, students paid on average a little over $200. "Students go on these trips to do good work and to learn - not to enjoy luxuries," Cochrane-Yamaguchi said. "We hope that the trips inspire students to return to campus with a commitment to engage in our local community."

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