COLUMN: Rewarding for the Right Reason

From David Lynn's "Straight Outta Kansas," Fall '93 From David Lynn's "Straight Outta Kansas," Fall '93It's an idea that is long overdue, and almost too late. The current trend towards student community service on campus is laudable. In fact, I believe that it would be in the best interest of the University and the community to require that all undergraduate students participate in 30 hours of community service each semester. I believe Benjamin Franklin would agree. Getting involved in the community is vital. Anyone who lives in University City can see a multitude of social problems by just walking out the front door. It is clear that the community we live in desperately needs educated, energetic individuals to show the University's commitment to its neighborhood. Everyone needs to pitch in, or the problems will get worse. The idea of giving something back to the community has made Penn what it is today and should be instilled in all who come here to study. Even students who receive no financial aid still benefit from the generosity of wealthy individuals – too numerous to thank – who have funded programs, endowed chairs, and built buildings. It saddens me to hear students on Penn's campus rail against the idea of mandated community service because it is, in their eyes, a burden. If it were not for someone else shouldering such a "burden," many of the buildings on campus would not be here today. However, I am also aware of the current realities at Penn, which suggest to me that the continued argument for a mandatory community service requirement is, at this time, a waste of space. So instead, I suggest Plan B (trumpet blast): the President's Award. The President's Award? Yeah, that's right, the President's Award. Any student who signs up to work with a community-based organization as a volunteer and contributes 30 or more hours to that organization would receive the President's Award. The award should be given out at the end of each semester. If you don't like my title, choose your own, but remember, it's gotta sound real important. No offense to Kim Morrison, but the "Vice Provost for University Life's Award" just won't cut it. If it were up to me, there would be no ceremony, no reception with sliced peppers and vegetable dip, no speech from the President (sorry, Dr. Fagin). None of that. Just a letter of confirmation to all who received the award. And a notation on the recipients' transcripts, right next to their GPA. Imagine yourself at a job or graduate school interview: "According to your transcript, you graduated with a 3.3 GPA, and – hey, you've got something here called the President's Award. What's that all about?" How's that for a conversation starter? Elevating such an award to this stature would send a clear message throughout the University (and the rest of the world) about how much Penn values community service. If the University wanted to get fancy, it could give the award in two categories: "general" and "in major." Students who receive the award for work they have done with a community-related organization that is relevant to their major would receive the award in their major which again would be viewed favorably by prospective employers or graduate schools. Psychology majors could volunteer in drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers; music majors could teach underprivileged students how to play an instrument; art students could help design promotional materials for an organization; accounting majors could balance a non-profit's books. I have heard several arguments against giving an award for community service. One is that many individuals who do community service simply want the satisfaction of helping the community. Fine. If they don't want the recognition or the award on their transcript, they need not fill out the necessary paperwork to receive the award. But, the argument I hear most frequently and strenuously is "Hey, if we give an award for community service, then students might begin doing community service for the wrong reasons." The wrong reasons? And just what might a "wrong reasons" be? To puff up a resume? How horrible! To get an award? Shocking. Maybe organizations like mine should root out volunteers who are doing community service for the wrong reasons? Would anyone like to take a shot at defining the "right reasons?" More than once I have had the opportunity to work with students sent to me by the JIO who are mandated to give community service as a result of various offenses (talk about a wrong reason). After working the allotted time, most of them told me that they were happy to be part of UCHC for a brief time working with the issues of hunger and homelessness and that they learned something. I don't care why people do community service. I care that people do community service. I occasionally see an estimated figure concerning the number of hours Penn students spend doing community service. Creating an award such as the President's Award might provide more accurate figures. Imagine the University proudly announcing each semester how many students contributed 30 hours or more to the surrounding community. It would also be interesting to see whether men or women gave more service, which school had the highest percentage of students winning the award, and the like. I have the pleasure of working with University students on a daily basis who believe that working with the community is their responsibility. If Penn is unwilling to make mandatory community service part of the Penn undergraduate experience, then I believe that the University should recognize those students – many of whom are currently anonymous – that are currently engaged in the process of bettering the community. I believe Benjamin Franklin would agree. David Lynn is a 1989 Wharton graduate and the executive director of the University City Hospitality Coalition. Straight Outta Kansas appears alternate Tuesdays.