ASB participants ready to spring into action

By Hanna LoPatin

Daily Staff Reporter

LSA freshman Leslie Gabay-Swanston is going to New York for the first time this spring break - but not to see a Broadway play or the Empire State Building.

She is going to counsel teenage runaways with Alternative Spring Break, a University program that allows students the opportunity to perform a variety of community services activities at sites across the nation.

"It sounded like a good opportunity," said Gabay-Swanston, who was involved in many community service programs during high school.

Last night more than 100 ASB participants attended a kick-off event in the Michigan League to inspire students for the upcoming week.

RC senior Amanda Beaumont, a member of the ASB leadership team, said the annual kick-off event was "a chance for everyone to come together and get motivated."

Beaumont has participated in ASB since her freshman year and said the program has the potential to change its participants for life.

The mission of ASB, she said, is to "motivate people to pursue a life of social action and social change."

Interim Dean of Students Frank Cianciola, who stepped in to speak at the last minute in place of interim Vice President for Student Affairs E. Royster Harper, said he admired the group for the commitment it requires.

"It's astounding that these students do fundraising in order to allow this to happen. It's a real reflection of what this is all about," he said.

Each group has had to raise at least $600 dollars since the beginning of December when the groups were formed.

The event was emceed by Director of Campus Information Centers Jeff Brake, a former ASB participant. "U of M is the largest ASB group in the country," Brake said, referring to the more than 300 students who will be traveling to 30 different sites next week.

"This is one of the most amazing organizations on this campus," he said.

Brake told the group of his own experiences, including a time when the group arrived late to their site after 40 hours of driving, and unable to find a place to stay, the group called their contact, who eagerly invited them to stay at his place.

"He had a two-bedroom apartment," Brake said. Most ASB groups consist of about 12 students.

Campus a cappella group 58 Greene performed three songs at the event. LSA junior and member of the group Aroosha Rana took a moment between songs to mention her ASB experience. "It was one of the best experiences of my life," she said. "You just know that you are making a difference in someone's life."

DAVID ROCHKIND/Daily

Engineering junior Jon Heger and other members of the singing group 58 Greene perform as part of the Alternative Spring Break kick-off event in the Michigan League last night.