The Associated Student Government opened their 85th session last week to kick off the spring semester. Aside from committee reports, the senate heard two other speakers.

Rachel McCommon, senior rehabilitation service education major and president of Sigma Alpha Lambda, spoke on behalf of Youth Friends. Emporia State President Michael Shonrock also spoke to the senators on a number of topics, chief among them was recruitment.

“If you’ve got folks out there, I’ll call them,” Shonrock said. “If you want me to send a little letter, I’ll send them a letter. Give me the information so we can personalize this opportunity because this is a great place and we know it in our hearts.”

McCommon spoke to the senators about participating in Youth Friends. Participants would be mentors for preschool and high school students for an hour a week. Students can request certain age groups and certain times in order to better fit themselves into the program.

“It’s more about quality time… being there with them, spending time with them after school,” McCommon said

Senator Luke Drury, legislative director, spoke about Higher Education Day in his report, highlighting three main points that will be addressed in meetings with legislators. The topics were economic returns on investments on higher education, student debt and scholarships and the conceal and carry bill.

“We want to make sure we talk about our vehement opposition to this bill as we feel, as a regents system, that our campuses are safe,” Drury said.

First readings for the meeting included bills for reserve fund requests for Alternative Spring Break, Beta Alpha Psi, the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and the American College of Sports medicine.

The senate also heard the first reading of a bill for the recognition of the Soccer Club of ESU. The rules were suspended and the bill for Alternative Spring Break was moved to general order.

“We’re trying to promote awareness for the issues with poverty housing. Every year we use Spring Break to go on a trip outside of Kansas, so we can help someone build a house,” said Brooke Schmidt, junior Spanish major and president of Alternative Spring Break.

The bill was to help defer costs of the annual trip the group makes to help build a house with Habitat for Humanity and passed unanimously.

Luke Bohannon

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Harber

For Lainie Harber, senior communications major and Service Corps Coordinator for the Community Hornets, this coming spring break offers more than just an opportunity for some sun and fun.

“I’m really excited about (Alternative Spring Break), but we’re trying something new this year… we decided to get student input,” Harber said.

Alternative Spring Break, led by the Community Hornets, is taking students to work on a project for Habitat for Humanity. According to the Habitat for Humanity web site (www.habitat.org), the program intends “to develop communities with people in need by building and renovating houses so that there are decent houses in decent communities.”

“It’s the perfect blend of Spring Break. You’re going to have that college Spring Break flavor because in the evenings you have them free… but during the day you’re doing service and you’re giving back,” Harber said.

Habitat for Humanity has many different sites to work on so the students that pay their $100 deposit before Oct. 27 get to decide where the trip goes. There are 19 different sites to choose from all over the country. Student input is very important to Alternative Spring Break and Community Hornets, as the service experience does happen during a time when most students will be out having a good time.

Improving the Emporia community as well as fostering a sense of service nationwide is important to Community Hornets.

“Community Hornets helps plan events and get students to come help out their foundations,” said Blythe Eddy, the Associate Director of the Memorial Union.

While this is the first year for the program, Alternative Spring Break is not the first activity available to help others. Last month the Community Hornets organized and helped out on the United Way Day of Caring. Coming up at the end of October is Haunted Trails at Camp Alexander just outside of Emporia.

“People can help set up the trail, and they can help scare (the children),” Harber said.

The Community Hornets is looking for more volunteers with monthly projects around the town. The meeting to decide on the destination of Alternative Spring Break will be at 4 p.m. in the Center for Student Involvement.

Charlie Heptas/The Bulletin

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LEAD Emporia accepting applications

Applications for the LEAD Emporia program are due Sept. 4. Students who wish to participate can find the applications at www.emporia.edu/csi/lead/LEADEmporianew.htm or in the Center for Student Involvement. The program is designed to help students get to know the Emporia community while meeting important figures and creating volunteer opportunities said Olivia Drumm, graduate assistant in Leadership Development.

The program will include six dates where students will be invited to meet with local business owners, tour businesses and learn about commerce in Emporia. Visit sites include the court house, Hopkins Manufacturing, the Chamber of Commerce, the recycling center and the water treatment plant. Students will get to meet the City Commissioner and talk with a panel of non-profit organizations.

LEAD Emporia will take about 25 students and is open to anyone.

Huge Activities Fair

The Huge Activities Fair will be held on Sept. 2. The deadline for organizations to reserve a table will be tomorrow. Applications can be found at http://www.emporia.edu/csi/haf/.

Currently there are about 55 organizations that have already reserved tables, said Michelle Hernandez, business administration graduate student. Students will find recognized student organizations, university departments and schools and community service organizations at the fair. Hernandez said that the Center for Student Involvement would like to offer as many tables as possible for organizations to get their names out.

In case of bad weather, the Activities Fair will be moved to Sept. 9.

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity will have a ground breaking ceremony on Sept. 4 in honor of a new project starting at 215 S East Street. The family, who has a daughter in a wheelchair, also contacted the Make-A-Wish foundation, who will be building their daughter’s bedroom.

The project will take about 8 months, said Sally Conard, secretary of the Habitat for Humanity board. The group will work on Saturdays and needs about 10-20 volunteers each week. To find out more about volunteering, contact Steve Weiser at 620-366-0486 or weiserst@yahoo.com.

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