Freshman Day of Service Commemorates Sept. 11

Nearly 1,400 GW freshmen gathered in University Yard to kick off the first annual Freshman Day of Service. The focus of the event was to serve military veterans in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area to commemorate the eighth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

“There were multiple different service sights particularly focused on serving military veterans,” said Shannon Donahue of the Office of Community Service, which sponsored the event along with Student and Academic Support Services (SASS). “But also looking at issues such as homelessness and environmental sustainability.”

The GW Board of Trustees and President Knapp created the event for freshmen so that “GW students, right when they get to GW, have a community service experience,” said Donahue.

The Freshman Day of Service ties in with the theme presented to GW by First Lady Michelle Obama this morning. The First Lady agreed to speak at GW’s 2010 commencement if the students, faculty, and staff volunteered 100,000 hours of community service throughout the 2009-2010 academic year, according to a press release from GW Media Relations. Already, students and the university administration are pushing to meet this challenge, with a letter of support from GW President Steven Knapp and Student Association President Julie Bindelglass ‘11 on the front page of the university’s Web site.

At the opening ceremony, Emily Martuscello ‘13 awaited her opportunity to get involved.

“This day of service is a great way to give back to the D.C. community and…a great day to honor those who protect us,” said Martuscello.  She said she was impressed by the number of freshmen that gave up their Friday afternoon to volunteer.

“I think that’s very telling of the kind of class we have,” she said.

Donahue agreed, saying that “this new class of freshman was more involved with community service in high school than past classes.”

After the opening ceremony in University Yard, which consisted of various speakers and a boxed lunch under a large white tent, students were sent away in buses to their various service locations. The volunteers worked for the majority of the afternoon and returned to campus shortly before 5 p.m. for the informal closing ceremony and cookout.

“I was born and raised Catholic so I was taught by my parents to give back,” said John Bennett ‘13. “But over the years it has become something I really enjoy, and this event is especially important for me because I have a deep respect for men and women of the armed forces.”

Bennett’s task for the day was to make care packages for men and women in military service in Afghanistan. Other activities include picking up trash and weeding at the Anacostia Water Shed and cleaning up Oxon Run Park in Southeast D.C.

The general impression from those involved was that the event was a success and efficiently run.

“I thought it was interesting that for the first time that the university did this event that it was such a success,” said JC Stiassni ‘13, who helped clean up Oxon Run Park. “I think that they should not only continue it but expand it to not only freshman but all levels.”

Not everyone was in agreement about the event, however. One participant assigned to remove weeds at the Anacostia Water Shed, Rishabh Agarwal ‘13, said, “I thought we would be interacting with people more. Since the event was supposed to revolve around Sept. 11, I think the service activities should have reflected that more.”

Amanda Kay ‘13, who was also assigned to clean up the Anacostia Water Shed, agreed with Stiassni.

“It was run well and the buses were nice,” she said. “It was pretty fulfilling even though it was just picking up trash.” She also claimed that being a part of this event inspired her to continue doing community service throughout the year.

“Once you start off doing something, it’s less intimidating to continue.”

Tags: Freshman Day of Service, Michelle Obama, Office of Community Service