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Show A2 NEWS Students gain real service experience The Losee Center is the best resource for servicing students and members of the community. Courtesy of Jato Buntjer By CLAUDINE KURADUSENGE News Writer At UVU, students have the opportunity not only to study, but also to apply what they learn through the Volunteer & Service-Learning Center. The center works with thousands of volunteer students and clubs who want to have a better understanding of the responsibility of a big project. They also cater to those who want to practice what their teachers talk about in class. Participants want to make a difference both in their own lives and their communities. To be a member of the volunteer team is not complicated; a desire to help is all that is required. The center has three levels of volunteer service. The first is the student volunteer, where the participant is involved in different assigned activities. At the second level, students work directly with professors. This is where volunteers put into practice the material from their courses. It is a part of the curriculum and participants receive class credit for their work. The final level is being a student counselor. This allows volunteers to work on projects and practice them in the community. The participants choose what projects they will work with, establish a budget and get to work. The center supports several activities and projects to help stu- How U V U is reinventing the meaning of service By GLADIS HIGGINBOTHAM dents during their college years, one of them being academic tutoring. All students can receive assistance in subjects such as math, English, chemistry and more. Friday's Kids Respite, is also supported by the center and helps parents who have children with disabilities. The volunteers come to play with the kids, allowing parents to have some time for themselves. Another service that will soon be offered is the distribution of food to students who need it and those who have to take a semester off to be able to pay their tuition. More information about the Volunteer & Service-Learning center's services and how to volunteer is available by visiting LC 209 or going to their website at http://www.UVU.edu/Volunteer. Not everyone in Utah is Republican Resources ori campus help students succeed By MAXX STEWART By HEATHER TURLEY News Writer News Writer UVU is situated in one of the most Republican states in the nation. Despite this, the school has a surprising amount of political diversity, ranging from organizations of strong Republican adherence to those who align themselves with anti-capitalists. Many students use modern resources as well as school provided support to stay up to date with the political climate. "One of the ways I stay up to date is by watching 'The Daily Show' and T h e Colbert Report.' I also read articles and a few blogs," said History student Trent Morairty. This prevalent political awareness on campus is benefiting the organizations that align themselves around political parties or ideologies. "On average our weekly meetings bring out 20-30 people," said Chris Manor, President of the Revolutionary Student Union. u On record we have about 15 due paying members, as well as a contact list of well over 300." Formed in fall of 2009, the RSU is relatively young when compared to more established clubs. The RSU has started a YouTube channel under the name UVURSU and a Facebook group under Revolutionary Students Union, both of which are intended to invite new members to view past lectures or to contact the group. At UVU's Women's Resource Center, advocacy is the central philosophy. Peggy Pasin, coordinator at the WRC, directs and assists both women and men struggling to fully evaluate their options financially, academically, and personally. "I schedule a one-to-one interview and discuss any concerns with the client," Pasin said. "The WRC helps the client think through options and refine their understanding of how resources on and off campus may help them be successful." Students may not always know how to access resources to succeed at school, such as getting the help they need in the math lab or making a study plan for a difficult class. A lot of attention is devoted to working with women undertaking the difficult task of reentering the life of a student while balancing a job and parental responsibilities. Some students deal with financial concerns, as well as personal ones such as domestic violence. Many women are not aware of the options available to help address these educational barriers. The WRC evaluates the needs of students while keeping their personal information confidential. They can also direct students to financial aid or health services in the community. Pasin says that the goal of the WRC is CARE: connection, advocacy, resources and encouragement. This helps students understand their options %nd reach their potential. For more information about their services, contact the WRC at 863-8080. . News Writer In the hustle and bustle, UVU staff gives back to local community. University employees have a new way to give ^back to the community through various service projects that were part of a yearly conference called Summer University. "We start in early January, identifying potential projects within the community that our staff can participate in and last year was the first time that we added service projects to Summer University," said Event Coordinator Alexis Palmer. Palmer further explained that the purpose of this project is to give the staff an opportunity to participate in personal and professional development. 'The staff at UVU normally do not have the oppor- tunity to attend professional conferences or engage with the community," Palmer said. Summer University is meant to meet those needs. Although some of the volunteers were faculty, the majority who participated were staff. The conference, held May 1214, began with a family celebration and advanced into personal and professional development workshops and a keynote address. On Wednesday all participating employees engaged in a day of service. Activities covered a wide range, including cleaning up after, grooming and walking animals, repairing pasture fences, building a home, sorting and organizing food in the food bank, Courtesy of Alexis Palmer landscaping, building decks, installing sprinklers and cutting down noxious weeds in the infield trails of the Provo Canyon Park. According to Palmer, 800 employees participated for a total of 2,000 hours of service and $41,000 put back into the community through all of the service provided ' this year. The staff is satisfied about this year's success and already planning next year's projects. "We hope to continue a day of service once a year that all UVU employees participate in whether it is through Summer University or another time during the year," said Palmer. i |