Cornell's Student Assembly has launched a new service-oriented initiative, in an attempt to build teamwork within campus student organizations while helping to build a better community.
In a resolution approved by the Student Assembly (SA) Sept. 12, the SA created a partnership with the Cornell Public Service Center (PSC) that aims to encourage groups funded by the Student Assembly to participate in service activities promoted by the PSC.
About 15 SA members participated in its inaugural service event Sept. 14, by volunteering at AIDS Work's Ride for Life around Cayuga Lake. And at 4:45 this afternoon, representatives from a nationwide student service group, America's Promise -- The Alliance for Youth, will address the Student Assembly in the Willard Straight Hall Memorial Room. That meeting is open to all.
"We're trying to change the culture of how the Student Assembly operates, because we realize that as elected leaders, we have a responsibility to service," explained Noah Doyle, SA president and a senior in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations. "We want the Student Assembly to promote the idea that we, as on-campus student leaders, have a mission to serve both the university and the surrounding community."
Doyle said that, initially, this program is aimed at promoting service among student groups, not individuals. "The goal is to build teamwork, and service builds teamwork." He added that teamwork allows student groups to accomplish more each week and develops future leaders for the student organization.
In addition to building teamwork, the SA, he said, hopes the program will help highlight the positive effects that Cornell has on the surrounding community. Additionally, he noted, this initiative connects with Cornell's land-grant mission, which calls on the university to be of service to the community, the state, the nation and the world.
He said the SA is starting small, with a total of eight events scheduled thus far, but that they hope there will be a domino effect. "Cornell students are extremely busy. However if, once a semester, each campus group got involved with a service project, could you picture the impact we would have on our community?" Doyle asked.
And that, he said, is where the partnership with the PSC comes in. He said the SA can be an advocate, but does not have the resources to research and plan appropriate service activities on the scale they hope to achieve. But, he pointed out, that's why the PSC partnership is mutually beneficial.
"The Cornell Public Service Center is excited about the opportunity to work with the Student Assembly, specifically in their goal to make community-service and active citizenship a goal of student organizations on campus," said Joyce Muchan, Public Service Center student programs adviser. "The center will support the Student Assembly in its outreach and educational efforts by providing information about group service activities occurring in the community and other available avenues."
Doyle said the SA hopes to build another partnership with America's Promise, potentially to broaden the scope of the SA's efforts. In addition to their presentation at today's SA meeting, America's Promise representatives will be meeting with administrators and campus leaders throughout their visit.
America's Promise arose out of the April 1997 Presidents' Summit for America's Future and, as a result, according to the organization, many communities across the country are now mobilizing to fulfill the following five promises for children and youth:
Doyle said SA members Kate Howell and Chris Hein also are involved in planning the new initiative. Howell, a junior in the College of Human Ecology, is SA vice president for public relations.
"I think community service is a great way to build teamwork and relationships within the SA as well as strengthen our relationship with all campus organizations," Howell said.
Hein, a senior in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is chair of the America's Promise Task Force of Community Leaders, which is composed of service leaders from across campus.
The SA's other scheduled service events this semester include helping with the Ithaca Apple Harvest Festival Oct. 5 and decorating the Cayuga Medical Center for Thanksgiving, Nov. 14.
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