By AMANDA MEADER
Staff Writer
 

Last year, 654 Bates students participated in1,286 service-learning projects. According to Carignan, the program is set up to "help students connect theory and practice, personal goals and curricular experiences, knowledge and future career aspirations. We seek to foster integrated learning for students - the opportunity to pull things together in a way which is meaningful intellectually and morally and transforming personally."

The variety of programs which students can choose to be involved in include the AIDS Coalition of Lewiston/Auburn, Tri-County Mental Health Services, Abused Women's Advocacy Project, Maine Land Trust Network, Maine Gay and Lesbian Political Alliance, St. Mary's Regional Health Center and the Auburn Watershed Commission.

However, Rotundo explains that the Center for Service-Learning can work with students to create a project for anything they might be interested in.

Students can design independent projects based on service learning, and they can use their federal work study money as well. For instance, Bates is participating in President Clinton's America Reads Challenge, and is paying work study students to help teach reading in local elementary schools. Students can also earn their work study money by working for non-profit organizations such as Maine Public Broadcasting, the Sexual Assault Crisis Center, the Children's Rain Forest and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Students can also serve as mentors to children and adults in the community.

"If students have an interest they should really come in and talk," said Rotundo. She explained that through doing service learning student's lives are often transformed, and sites as an example -- Christopher Plourde '96. Plourde had intended to pursue an M.B.A. until doing service-learning at Dirigo, a transitional home for youth. Because of his experience, Plourde chose to pursue a Masters in social work, saying "I credit my service-learning experience as a major turning point in the direction of my career path."

Tonie Taft '98, is finding her experience with service-learning to be important to her future plans as well. A psychology major with a passion for Spanish and a love of children, Taft volunteers at Turner Elementary as a teacher for the "English as a Second Language" program. (The Turner school system has many Spanish-speaking students because of nearby Decoster Egg Farm which employs a large number of Hispanic immigrants.)

Taft goes into the school every Monday and helps translate students' lessons from English to Spanish. With a background of one Spanish class at Bates and a semester spent in Spain, Taft's job becomes especially challenging when she is left in the room as the primary translator.

Working at Turner has provided Taft with practical classroom experience she will need for future plans to join the Peace Corps as a teacher for the English as a Second Language program. Through the Peace Corps, new peoples and cultures will be opened up to Taft, who is eager to see the world.

Katie Lipp '98 and A.J. Glusman '99 are involved in a service learning project dubbed "Little One's Love Languages." With enthusiasm Lipp explains that she was one of the four people behind the creation of this particular service-learning project, working with her faculty advisor Associate Professor of Russian Dennis Brown, and two other Bates students. The brainchild of Brown, "Little One's Love Languages" was implemented last short term and was a huge success.

The program involves Bates students who go to Pettingill Elementary School usually twice a week for a half hour to teach foreign languages to students. Languages being taught include Spanish, French, Russian, Japanese and German. Lipp and Glumasn are organizers of the project this year, and both agree vehemently that making Bates schedules match Pettingill schedules is the hardest aspect of the job.

Both women feel that their program is important because languages build bridges between people. "I think languages are really important because it's a way of opening up a whole different culture and people," said Lipp. Lipp is an anthropology major who wants to teach after graduate school, and while Glusman may not be headed into a teaching career, her work with "Little One's Love Languages" is important to her.

Stacey Berkowitz '01, volunteers her time at St. Martin de Porres Church, where Sister Gilbert runs an organization called the Community Closet. "We give out clothes to people who need them, no questions asked," said Berkowitz. Time is spent sorting through donations, helping recipients, and most importantly to Berkowitz, getting to talk with the customers.

"I love when people come in and I get to talk with them and interact with them. If you really get into a conversation with them it's fabulous," said Berkowitz.

Berkowitz and other volunteers insist that the clothes they provide be in the best condition possible. If an item is ripped, torn, stained, or coming apart at the seams, it will not be given out. Like many Batesies, Berkowitz comes from wealth, so she likes being involved in the Community Closet, as it shows her another way of life.

"I definitely feel bad for the customers. How can I be so fortunate and other people be so unfortunate?" Berkowitz asked. Despite the emotional ramifications connected to stepping out of her own constructed reality, Berkowitz will continue to volunteer for two hours a week. "I'm really glad this is in the curriculum ... I am not going to stop once this semester is over," she said.

Rotundo points out that there is a clear difference between service-learning and volunteering, which President Donald Harward endorses and many professors use. Service-learning has an educational component, a time when students are asked to reflect on what they are learning. This can be done through classroom discussion or at the Center for Service-Learning.

Bridging the gap between Bates and surrounding communities, offering the service of their specific knowledge, and gaining hands-on job experience are some of the reasons Bates students choose to participate in service-learning projects. For certain classes and majors at Bates participation is required; however, for many students, a requirement often turns into something rewarding and fun.

"Service learning isn't an add on to classes," explained Rotundo, "it enhances them. Students have had an enormous impact on this community through the work they've done, and they should be very, very proud."