LETTERS: Friday, January 28, 2000

A home for service learningA home for service learningTo the Editor: As a past participant in the 1998 Penn Program for Public Service, I can identify with the distinct opportunity to take a course and live with a diverse group of students at Penn. Among many of the benefits of the program, one apparent goal was the chance for many of us to work in two local public schools, while taking an Academically Based Community Service course together. We were able to connect our academic learning to finding tangible solutions in communities outside of Penn. Shu's suggested program would allow more opportunities for daily interaction outside of the classroom. This would encourage ongoing discussion among a group of students with like-minded goals. Not only would these students have the chance to learn with and from each other, but Penn would also benefit from their work. The programs that interns would research, create and lead would contribute to the University's larger effort to improve the relationship between Penn and West Philadelphia. Interns have been responsible for creating a number of ABCS courses, programs in local schools and a volunteer training program that helps to promote more effective volunteer efforts among Penn students, to name a few. Many of us continued the programs we started through the internship, but the fall semester definitely did not allot the amount of time and energy we could realistically commit in a 12-week intensive program. This type of house would allow dedicated students, who support implementing positive changes to the Penn-West Philadelphia community, to live in an environment that would help support their work. Eilleen Ingram College '01