Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Season’s Givings

The days are getting shorter, the weather is getting colder and Lau is full of stressed-out students: It is the holiday season again.

This is a time to call to mind what we are grateful for and how we can give back to others, and around this time of year, students and campus organizations often join in the holiday spirit through community service projects. While these efforts are admirable, more could be done. The Student Activities Commission needs to mandate that all student groups that receive funding for events allocate a certain percentage to put on community service functions.

Obviously, there are several strong advocates of community service on campus. The Center for Social Justice provides a variety of service opportunities in which many students actively participate. In addition, various student organizations have engaged in group service projects, most notably through the campus-wide “25 Days of Service” program in October. During this year’s program, over 60 projects were completed. Many clubs were able to generate excitement about their individual endeavors and engage a wide range of students.

Though the efforts of certain groups to give back to the community are noteworthy, they should be the norm and not the exception. SAC has avoided dictating how clubs spend their money to ensure that sponsored student groups remain autonomous, but community service should be an initiative that trumps the value of club independence.

Still, service and autonomy need not be mutually exclusive. As part of this recommended service mandate, student groups should have the right to choose which cause they support in fulfilling their obligation.

During the cold winter months ahead, all student groups need to remember those in need. The imposition of a requirement for student groups to give back would be a small but meaningful step toward reinforcing our Jesuit identity of men and women for others.

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