Service starts with baby steps

We are not just students at the University of La Verne, not just Californians, not even just Americans. We are citizens of the world and we have a responsibility to take care of one another, but not because doing some extra work to help others will generate some more money. It is the right thing to do and it is needed desperately. We have a duty to fill this void.

It is called volunteerism and we are the generation that needs to save this extinct species. If we do not change the trend of “every man for himself,” the future of our society remains in jeopardy. We are blessed that the University of La Verne recognizes this and has put it into the curriculum.

In the fall of 1996, six University of La Verne students participated in a service learning class designed to show students the importance of volunteerism. According to Teresa Bader-Hull, ULV is in its second year of instituting service learning. Students were able to choose what area of service learning they wished to participated in, and every student was required to serve 25 hours of community service.

It appears the country is catching up the the University. Over the last few weeks, there has been a call by numerous political (including President Clinton) and civic leaders urging people to become volunteers in their communities. April 21-23 of this year was the first annual President’s Summit for America’s Future.

It is about time.

Far too long has our society had a me and mine attitude, disregarding their neighbors and community. Sometimes it seems as though the only people involved in community service are those serving it for breaking the law. After the “Me Generation” of the 1980s, service has been left behind, with work and play taking precedence over helping, caretaking or even just caring.

This is a first step to improving the conditions of society. If each person in this nation over 18 spent one hour per month volunteering, that would be more than 197,000 people hours per month. That is the equivalent of 22.4 consecutive years. Imagine that power.

But we must start somewhere. One hour per year per person would still provide an invaluable contribution to our society. Not only would lives be improved physically, but emotionally and there would likely be a better spirit and feeling and quite possibly a better society.

Volunteering also sends an important message about what society has evolved into. Are Americans only willing to take the time to work if it involves being compensated with money? What about the concern for one’s fellow man? What about taking responsibility as a citizen of the world and helping those in need?

A popular cliche remains: what goes around comes around. Those able to take the time to help others will someday be cared for when they need it, if and only if our society continues to support volunteerism.

It begins with one hour per week, per month or even every few months. One may not walk out with a couple of dollars but perhaps a warm feeling inside from helping a 7-year-old read, a 17-year-old stay out of a gang or a 77-year-old eat dinner will be enough.

Baby steps. That is how we begin anything. We are the future and as citizens of the world, we have a job to do.

Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the Campus Times Editorial Board.

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