Volunteer group lacks IU funding

From organizing a senior citizens' prom to aiding in the care of kids at the Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington, the Volunteer Student Bureau is staying busy.\nThe organization facilitates student involvement in the community and helps contribute to the personal growth of students, according to the Web site.\nAlthough every other Big Ten school besides IU has a paid office that supports civic engagement, the VSB isn't discouraged. The group's efforts are more important to the individual offering the service, but the issue can still get frustrating.\n"It's kind of unusual that we don't (have funding, but) it makes it more worthwhile," said sophomore Catie Eggert, next year's co-president. "We're putting more effort into it than having people do it for us."\nIn response to this, Interim IU-Bloomington Chancellor Ken Gros Louis said a campus-wide committee was recently appointed on civic engagement.\n"This has been a topic of discussion with my other Big Ten colleagues for over a year and we have not endorsed the explanation of exactly what 'civic engagement' means for faculty, staff and students," Gros Louis said. \nSome students around campus said IU should assist with the organization because it otherwise looks as though the University is singled out from the rest of the other Big Ten schools.\nFreshman Laura Brauth, said she believes the University should support volunteer groups.\nIf students are willing to take time out of their busy lives then the University should fund that, Brauth said. \nAlthough funding is lacking, support for the VSB and other student volunteer organizations such as the leadership group Circle K is soaring.\n"Students use volunteer activities to help others less fortunate, to develop work-related skills and to explore career-related interests," said Dean of Students Richard McKaig. "In return, they often feel that they get more than they give in terms of learning about others and Bloomington, in feeling appreciated for their assistance, and in developing a better sense of how one person can make a difference."\nJunior and co-president of next year's VSB, Caitlin Roth, said she agrees that students benefit from the volunteering experiences. \n"The students get more out of it than the group they are volunteering," Roth said. "It's invaluable and almost a shame not to volunteer."\nRoth remembers last year's Children's Holiday Wish Program, which takes place every December.\n"We collaborate with other organizations and get people to sponsor children and get them gifts for the holidays," Roth said. "We have a wrapping party before the kids get them." Gifts are then distributed before students leave for winter break. \nBut the group's biggest event is the Volunteers Opportunities Fair held every fall during which various Bloomington agencies are set up in the Indiana Memorial Union. Annually nearly 400 students walk through and receive information from these agencies. Those who seek certain volunteer genres are directed to a certain table.\nVSB's services are recognized not only by students and faculty, but by the organizations it has helped.\nRebecca Linehan, the Crestmont unit director at the Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington, appreciate not only the VSB's service to them, but of the IU students who aren't affiliated with a volunteer organization who come and help.\n"We couldn't function as well as we do if we didn't have IU student volunteers," Linehan said. \nStudent volunteer responsibilities include supervising children, organizing a carnival and tutoring. \n"They need a pat on their back for all they do," Linehan said.\nWithout student involvement, this organization, like many others, would diminish. Roth encourages students to check out the VSB Web site to obtain information on helping out at www.indiana.edu/~iuvolbur.\n"Our favorite thing is to get e-mails from students saying they want to help," Roth said. \n-- Contact Weekend Features Editor Andrea Opperman at acopperm@indiana.edu