Imagine waking up at 9:30 (Yes, 9:30 A.M.) on a sunny Spring morning, sitting up in your bed and stretching that last bit of sleep out of yourself. You think back upon the weekend that has just taken place so far -- three parties on Friday, four more frats that Saturday night (as opposed to the normal 6 to 1 ratio), no work-- and you smile. But your smile isn't quite complete yet. You still feel unfulfilled. Everything doesn't seem quite perfect just yet. But then you remember why you woke up so early in the first place. Its May 3. In most other places in the United States May 3 is just another Saturday, but not at Dartmouth. In Hanover, May 3, 1997 means DarCORPS (Dartmouth Community OutReach ProjectS) -- a day for community service between Dartmouth students and the Upper Valley area.
You trudge out of bed and go over to the Bema with 500 other volunteers from the College, the faculty, the med school, and Tuck for the illustrious opening ceremonies. You receive words of inspiration (along with a really neat T-shirt and a yummy brown bag snack for later) and head out to the buses that will take you to those places where there are people that need your help. You signed up a couple a weeks ago for several different projects to work on.
The choices were endless -- reading books and playing games with children; visiting, talking, and working with the elderly; gardening and lawn work for walkways and trails; painting and washing public buildings; providing office support in such areas as computer literacy (that should be a hard one to find here!), non-profit mailings and the such; and other indoor activities involving the organization of equipment and the cleaning of museum artifacts. Choosing just one was a toughie, but you figured each of the projects is a worthy cause and wherever you wound up would be fine because a greater good would be getting accomplished. Lives and communities were going to be improved because you gave a damn.
And from 11:00 to 2:30 you have a great time working. Half-way through the day your stomach begins to grumble so you open up your snack pack to find a bagel, a fresh piece of fruit and a Pepsi grinning up at you. You get dirt under your fingernails or paint on your kneecaps. You have taught somebody the wonders of the internet or let hundreds of people know through mass mailings about the dangers of harming the environment. You have made young people laugh or older ones radiate with joy. But DarCORPS isn't over just yet, there's more.
You return on the bus to the Bema, where to your astonishment you see a mammoth BBQ taking place with hamburgers and hot-dogs being served, along with salads and other veggie delights. People are hanging out and soaking some rays. Everybody is having a grand 'ol time reflecting and telling stories about what had happen over the course of the day. Good times were had, the values of volunteerism were learned, and many charity/service organizations received much necessary assistance -- a true "win-win" situation.
What just was described above does not have to be a story a columnist uses to make a point. What was described should be what every Dartmouth student does on Saturday, May 3. DarCORPS will provide people who have never experience the joys of engaging in community service with the opportunity to do so along with giving those people who enjoy performing community service another opportunity to contribute. Students like Rex Morey '99 and Mia Hockett '99 have devoted endless hours and enthusiam to making DarCORPS the day that it will be tomorrow. With their help, and ours, a regular Saturday will be made perfect for many deserving people.
