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From spirituality and interfaith dialogue to volunteerism and community service, Linda Morgan-Clement's activities focus, in large part, on involvement with multiple student groups on campus. As the Henry Jefferson Copeland Campus Minister at The College of Wooster since 1996, Morgan-Clement works with student religious groups of all faiths. She also helps to coordinate service-learning efforts; oversees the representatives of religious organizations who have an agreement with the College to provide pastoral services; and works closely with Wooster's president to provide worship and prayer on public occasions. An ordained Presbyterian minister, Morgan-Clement is a graduate of Carroll College. She received her master of divinity degree from McCormick Theological Seminary. Before coming to Wooster, Morgan-Clement served as a new church development pastor for the Presbytery of Milwaukee, associate pastor at Brookfield Presbyterian Church in Brookfield, Wis., and associate executive for the Synod of the Northeast, PC(USA), in Syracuse. In addition to her ministerial and counseling duties at Wooster, Morgan-Clement is the staff advisor to the Wooster Volunteer Network. In addition, she teaches as an adjunct faculty member in the department of religious studies, and oversees the Office of Campus Ministries, which coordinates religious life on campus. She has also been a keynote speaker and preacher at several national Presbyterian conferences. |
Volunteerism is alive and well on campuses
across the country, particularly at The College of Wooster, where students
are taking advantage of a growing number of opportunities to serve others.
Campus Minister Linda Morgan Clement, who also is the staff advisor to the
Wooster Volunteer Network, examines the value of volunteerism on campus
and its impact on communities across America.
In an era of unprecedented wealth and materialism, how do you account for such a strong interest in volunteerism among young people in America? I think many young people hunger for something that is missing in their lives. They want to engage in activities that are substantial and have meaning and value. They also want to know that they can make a difference in this world. Volunteering fulfills these needs by giving them an opportunity to become personally involved in hands-on projects that benefit others. The interpersonal contact that most of our service projects offer allow the students to develop their human interactions and communities in diverse groups. Is it important for college students to become involved in volunteer activities? Absolutely. Volunteerism gives students an outlet away from campus and reconnects them to a wider reality. A liberal arts education involves the development of the whole person, including citizenship, values and ethics, but it is hard to develop these without moving the student out of the academic environment. When students leave campus and participate in a volunteer activity, they often interact with people who are very different from themselves. Another advantage is that students seem to retain more of what they learn when they experience it. This type of service learning is extremely valuable and growing in practice on campuses across the nation. Also, in a small town like Wooster where town-gown relations are so important, these activities help to build a positive bond with the community. What sorts of volunteer opportunities are available for students? At Wooster, we offer a variety of different volunteer opportunities, most notably our program houses, where student residents provide service for a minimum of two hours each week to the agency with which that house is associated, such as the Wooster YMCA and Every Woman's House. In addition, students in our Greek system regularly participate in service activities. Other students may choose to join an organization directly or assist with an individual need, such as reading for an elderly person who is losing his or her sight. For the student who wishes to be an occasional volunteer, we offer such activities as making cards for kids in the hospital, picking up trash in the neighborhood, or assembling decorations for a party at one of the senior care centers. Why has The College of Wooster made such a commitment to volunteer service opportunities for students? The foundation for that commitment may be linked, in part, to Wooster's Presbyterian heritage, which stresses service to others. That legacy has been passed down for generations. Another reason is the influence of our faculty, staff, and administration, many of whom engage in volunteer activities themselves. I also think that the educational value of a volunteer experience is very important. Finally, because so many students are interested in being volunteers, having a comprehensive, well-organized program in an essential part of the overall marketing plan for the College. What are the benefits of volunteerism for the community? The community benefits in many ways, from hours of service to fundraising to donations of food, clothing and other items. In Wooster, students help to raise funds for a variety of groups. Last year, for example, students raised over $1000 for the annual United Way campaign. They also had several very successful food drives for People-to-People Ministries. This relationship between the students and members of the community benefits both parties because while the students volunteer their time, the experience is helping to prepare them for years of future service in their own community. How does one benefit from a volunteer experience? At this stage of their life, students are trying to figure out who they are and who they want to be. Volunteer service is an effective way to experience opportunities and interact with others in a way that helps to shape that profile. Many students who get involved in a volunteer activity do so because they believed it is a good thing, only to find out that it is not what they thought it would be. Others are so profoundly affected by the experience that they alter their career plans. Volunteer activities also give students many practical skills, including writing grants, learning technical and trade skills, and working with others. We also know that employers look favorably on volunteer experience. Overall, it just makes them feel good about giving something back. Students often say that what they learned in class was important but what they experienced as a volunteer changed their life. Can anyone be a volunteer? Not necessarily. Perhaps the most important trait for a volunteer is commitment, especially for those working with others who are in need or at risk. When a volunteer's schedule gets busy or the priorities change, it is unfair to let down a person who is counting on the assistance. Another important trait is empathy. You have to be able to walk in the shoes of others and to respect them as human beings, not simply as objects of pity. Finally, I think that the good volunteer is able to reflect on the experience and learn about themselves and the social structure that creates the need they are helping to fill. These traits are important in making the volunteering experience one that meets the goals of serving the needs of others and strengthening the community which both the volunteer and the client share. |
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| Last updated: January 10, 2006 · For more information, contact John Finn | ||
