Students attend volunteer fair

By Kristopher Robinson

Heights Editor

As business suit-clad students flocked to Conte Forum Saturday, a slightly different crowd gathered in the basement of Lyons Hall. Those gathering in Conte Forum fought to arrange paying jobs. Those gathering in Lyons Hall vied to work for free.

The Rat hosted for the annual Volunteer Fair Tuesday night, an event dedicated to showcasing the various opportunities for volunteering that Boston College has to offer.

Co-sponsored by the Undergraduate Government of Boston College (UGBC) and the Volunteer and Service Learning Center (VSLC), the fair featured groups stationed both on-campus and off.

Tables of fliers, pamphlets, and posters represented each organization. Options for students to perform service ranged from fundraisers and service trips that occur once annually, such as the Dance Marathon, which raises money for the West End House Boys and Girls Club, and the variety of immersion trips offered by the Lynch School of Education (LSOE) to full-year commitments, such as the 4Boston program.

Robin Watts, A&S ’12, attended the Volunteer Fair for the first time since she came to BC as a freshman. Like other students in attendance, she came to the event with the intention of finding out how she could get more involved in service.

Watts said she sought out the event because of her experience in PULSE.. “Last year I did PULSE, and now that I’m done with it, I’m feeling an absence of community service in my life,” she said.

One organization that appealed to her was Big Brothers / Big Sisters. “I already have my application filled out for it,” Watts said.Watts said she felt torn between the many groups present. “It’s not intimidating; I just feel bad because I can’t sign up for everything.”

In addition to stopping by the VSLC and asking for their assistance in finding volunteer opportunities, students can also take advantage of the bi-weekly e-mails sent out by the Eagle Volunteer Corps (EVC), which provide updates throughout the year.