New 'U' students 'plunge' into community service initiatives

New students dove into community service opportunities in Ann Arbor for the annual Community Plunge this weekend.

First-year and transfer students who turned out for the plunge dedicated their time to various service-oriented pursuits including working with small children, helping out at local hospitals or building houses in inner city Detroit.

Before their departure to different sites, students who filled the lobby of the Chemistry Building said they were excited to be lending a helping hand to those in need around Metro Detroit.

LSA first-year student Carissa Hindman said she was drawn to Community Plunge because it offers a chance to have fun and give to the community.

"Community Plunge gave me a chance to do community service, which is a good way to get to know other people as well as getting to know Ann Arbor and try different things," Hindman said. "It's just a great way to get involved and help out."

LSA first-year student Sarah Primeau said she chose Bortz Health Center for her site to help out in a field that interests her.

"I'm interested in medicine and I want to volunteer at the hospital later in the year," Primeau said. "Doing community service at the health center would help me figure out if this is an area that I want to go into."

LSA first-year student Lisa Montagna said community service enriches both students' lives as well as the community as a whole.

"Community service makes an improvement on the community and upon ourselves," Montagna said.

Junior transfer student Robert Gold said community service helps him put things into perspective.

"Through community service I gain a greater appreciation of what I have," Gold said. "Trying a wide variety of community service and giving back to the community and understanding people's life dilemmas offers me perspective so I don't complain when I have to study for a test."

LSA first-year student Jennifer Traugh said doing actual hands-on work at the Community Daycare Center in Ann Arbor was extremely rewarding.

"Physically going out and doing things and wanting to change things are different," Traugh said. "There's a difference between talking about changing things than actually doing it."

Traugh also said the upkeep of Ann Arbor's campus area reflects on the University's reputation.

"It's a reflection on the University and students need to give back to the community," Traugh said.

LSA first-year student Carolyn Miller worked on the site of Recycle in Ann Arbor and said Community Plunge opens doors for future student community service and is a good opportunity to learn more about Ann Arbor and meet its residents.

"Community plunge is a good way to make contacts in community service and find out what different projects are out there," Miller said. "It's about meeting people and learning about Ann Arbor and improving where we are going to be for the next four years."

Gold said working as a team on a Habitat for Humanity site allowed students to make substantial improvements on an area house.

"It was impressive that we all worked in a team and it was amazing how much we got done in one day," Gold said. "The family was there so we saw who we were helping, which put a personal view on it; instead of just working on the house, you see who's going to live there - it was a really fun experience."

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