Editor,
I would like to respond to Doug Rocks-Macqueen's letter in the April 12 issue of the Daily Lobo. While I am of the same mind as Rocks-Macqueen on the issue that service-learning programs should be an option that the University provides students, it should be known that these programs do exist and are available with many courses. I am in an English 102 service-learning class, and my peers and I have been doing exactly what Rocks-Macqueen says he would like to see done here at the University. Throughout the semester, I have been volunteering at Whittier Elementary School tutoring children, helping with homework and just being a good role model. I have used my experiences from Whittier Elementary as the pith of my English papers.
Service learning is beneficial to both the student participating and the community. I feel like the actual experience I have gained throughout this course will be helpful for anything I decide to do in the future. I agree that more college students should take a service-learning course to better themselves and give back to the community. The most valuable lessons are learned through experience, not in the pages of
a text.
I hope that many prospective service-learning students attended the Student Action Network meeting Saturday, and I hope for many more of these meetings to inform more students of the different opportunities the University offers.
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Nanda Ruiz-Jones
UNM student
