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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 28, 2000)
ASUO encourages community involvement ■ Student volunteers are in high demand at several local programs By Emily Gust Oregon Daily Emerald The ASUO is shifting its focus to a new outreach effort that includes four volunteer programs to get stu dents involved in the community. ASUO Outreach Associate Gabe Sitowski said that in order to help students discover the available op portunities, the ASUO held a meet ing last week to introduce four ex isting programs to interested students: Start Making A Reader To day (SMART), Pathfinders, Bolder Options and Lunch Buddies. SMART sends volunteers to se lected schools for one hour a week, where they read with two at-risk children in kindergarten through third grade, said Liz Degner, South Valley area manager for SMART. One of the most apparent effects of the program, Degner said, is that participation often changes stu dents’ attitudes. Some students will have bad atti tudes in the classroom before con necting with a SMART volunteer, she said. But, “After they work with volunteers, their self-esteem in creases and they start displaying a better attitude about being at school.” The goal is for every child to work with two volunteers per week. But with more than 950 children in the program and about 900 volunteers — many of whom work more than the one hour required — some chil dren aren’t receiving their two vis its. Degner said the program needs about 300 more volunteers to make sure every child is fully served. Options extend beyond third grade, and a few programs offer guidance to older youths. Commit ted Partners for Youth directs two of these — Pathfinders, which is set up for middle school children, and Turn to Outreach, page 6 Catharine Kendall Emerald Hadley Brown, SMART reading program coordinator for Westmoreland Elementary, reads to 5-year-old Antonio Garcia. Kwanzaa observance celebrates history, looks to future Laura Smit Emerald Abolade Majekobaje waters plants and seeds in honor of the past and the elders during the pre-celebration of the African American holiday Kwanzaa. Eugene's Specialty Snowboard Shop 245 Blair Blvd. 349-0087 10% OFF with this ad! 010751 Welcome To The Site of Me The New Millennium " A whore MONEY and EXCITEMENT \ keep SHOWING! _%VOUfl //n. _ _ Come Unravel Our Web! , ■ University students will celebrate Kwanzaa a bit early, but the holiday’s lessons are as powerful as ever By Serena Markstrom Oregon Daily Emerald Umoja, Kujichagulia, Ujima, Uja maa, Nia, Kuumbaand Imani. They are seven principles, repre senting seven days and they are not in November, hut the celebration of them often is. Each year Kwanzaa, the winter holiday celebrating African Ameri can culture, begins the day after Christmas, but because of the school-based schedule, many of the celebrations fall in November. Dominique Beaumonte, director of the University Black Student Union, said the early observation of Kwanzaa ensures proper acknowl edgment of an important holiday. “1 think it would be horrible if we overlooked it as a program on cam pus,” said Beaumonte, a sopho more pre-journalism major. The BSU held its Kwanzaa pro gram Wednesday in the EMU Ball room. About 150 people came to hear the music, see the skits and learn a bit about the background of the young holiday. Olivia Callier, a freshman, opened with the Black National An them, followed by a performance by the University Gospel Choir. C ( The goal is to provide cultural awareness by working together and enjoying each other’s presence. Dominique Beaumonte director Black Student Union %% “Keep your head up, don’t give in,” Sara Chiles, a soloist, sang, “Everything will be all right.” This singing set the stage for an en tertaining and informational program. “The goal is to provide cultural awareness bv working together and enjoying each other’s presence,” Beaumonte said. The event was put on entirely by student volunteers. Students acted out the first day, Umoja, or unity, with a simulated classroom skit outlining the pur pose of Kwanzaa. In 1966, Dr. Maulana Kaxenga, an activist and black studies scholar, founded the holiday. Today, Ameri cans celebrate it in a number of ways, most of which involve a spiritual re connection to the African American community and to one’s goals. The professor asked his class if anyone knew who Karenga is. A ditzy student, portrayed by Abo lade Majekobaje, eagerly raised her hand and said he is, like, the best football player. Beaumonte, playing a smart stu dent, corrected her and ultimately moved his chair away from the ig norant student, evoking laughter and applause from the audience. Majekobaje, whose father is Nigerian, said she also learned about Kwanzaa in real-life school, Turn to Kwanzaa, page 6 Ooeta/XHa cxi/i t wait txxfeeeA/ .. more days ...until the Oregon Daily Emerald holiday issue. (The last issue for fall term. Advertising deadline is Wednesday, November 29)
