COLUMN: Is Service the Seed of Prosperity?

From Lee Bailey's "The Immaculate Perception?," Fall '95 From Lee Bailey's "The Immaculate Perception?," Fall '95There is a movement toward change, elusive in its latency, which seethes beneath the surface of the University. In recent years, manifestations of this developing trend have proliferated -- they have emanated both from the student body and the administration. The progeny of liberal theory education and urban crisis, the campus community service movement is coming and you cannot avoid it. One of the more recent indicators was University president Judith Rodin's speech at the 1995 Convocation Ceremony. She said, "You will find opportunities for community service that will bring rewards beyond measure both to you and to those you decide to help." Only the latest in a series of intimations from on high, Dr. Rodin's rhetoric is typical of that which will undoubtedly flow from College Hall in coming semesters. Students have not been coerced or prodded in the push towards community involvement. On the contrary, it is the student body which has been on the leading edge of outreach towards West Philadelphia and the resident population. The front page of The Daily Pennsylvanian frequently reports of the admirable attempts and successes of University students who are pioneering new programs. Current initiatives range from tutoring young children to educating adults about personal health-- there are literally hundreds of projects spending thousands of private, public, and University dollars to improve the West Philadelphia area. Why? Many students simply feel that it is their reciprocal obligation to society. Others act to staunch the hemorrhaging urban decay which they perceive to be accelerating at a dangerous pace. And, yes, some are probably just trying to get into Yale Law School. Perhaps, therefore, a more pivotal question asks not why, but towards what end. What are the results of these multitudinous, laudable efforts? The answer cannot be definitive, for the host of programs is so varied. While many endeavors fail, others thrive and contribute to overall well-being. It is not the success rate which is key in these considerations, but the overall effect of community outreach. These efforts sew the radically diverse fabrics of university and community, enmesh the scions of poverty and prosperity, and potentially benefit all. The University's aim is not a doting paternity, but a true and legitimate symbiosis, in which the students apply their character and explore their academic interests in their very own neighborhood. Unknown to faculty and students alike is the enormous case study in which they live and work. West Philadelphia offers the opportunity to study architecture, urban planning, economics, social work, psychology, entrepreneurship, public finance, sociology, education, history, and an amazingly rich variety of even more fields. Ought it be ignored? Can the University population profit from what has been called a hellish environment, while simultaneously assisting those who struggle to live there? It is important to remain cognizant of the fact that such a grand scheme of mutualistic rejuvenation is yet to be proven or completely implemented. Many, including this columnist, are not yet completely sold on the radical approach, and most are not even aware of it. However, the notion merits scrutiny, for it represents a phenomenal opportunity to enrich every party involved. There is a definite possibility that community service will no longer remain the domain of the societally supersensitive. It will become part of most students' routine, and perhaps a mainstay of the university experience.