THIS PAST week, about 650 University students traveled throughout the United States and the world on Alternative Spring Break trips. I went on a trip to Washington, D.C. and served food to HIV/AIDS patients. Founded in 1992, ASB has received a great deal of criticism from participants and uninvolved observers alike. Before leaving, I had my concerns about the group's stated mission, goals and modus operandi. After completing an ASB trip, I've decided that much of the criticism is unfounded or wrong. Like any group, Alternative Spring Break has its flaws. However, its core ideas and ideals are correct, and critics should focus on these issues rather than petty concerns.
Many observers cynically note that it's hard to focus on accomplishing positive change in some of ASB's locations. This exotic trip argument is spurious. During the last day of reflections, a daily time for ASB groups to share their thoughts and comments on the day's activities, my group in Washington, D.C. discussed "voluntourism" and the balance we struck between volunteering and vacationing. After our discussion, I decided that the time spent sightseeing in D.C. was just as educational as the time spent serving.
Traveling in a day's time from the urban splendor of Georgetown to the gritty poverty of Southeast D.C. vividly illustrated the socioeconomic divides that exist in our nation's capitol and the nation overall. To really understand the causes and effects of AIDS, I needed to visit Capitol Hill just as much as I needed to deliver food to residents in the G Street housing projects. In at least one case, I saw affluence and abject poverty collide, as my group served homeless people in a public park on K Street, located yards from the offices of America's most powerful lobbying firms.
ASB President Abbie Klinghoffer further explains the role of discretionary travel in service trips. She notes that "nowhere in our mission statement do we say that our focus is just service. We try to expose people to the culture as much as possible and to form small communities of students who have a shared experience to learn from and discuss." Such internal exchange is one of the most compelling components of ASB, as it prompts University students to reconsider past biases and opinions. My views on AIDS greatly changed after personally witnessing the impact of that disease on families and entire communities in a city that, according to National Public Radio, "has the highest rate of HIV/AIDS infection in the country."
ASB critics also accuse the group of favoring international trips over domestic service. Although 24 domestic locations, ranging from New Orleans to New York City and South Carolina to South Dakota were served, some assert that ASB neglects local needs. A project in Charlottesville was offered for the second year in a row to illustrate the connection ASB participants feel to the local community. However, ASB shouldn't divert too many resources away from domestic and international sites. Its core mission is to change the perspectives of participants and those served. This can best be accomplished by volunteering in areas not already serviced by Madison House and similar programs.
A final, and particularly biting criticism, is that students volunteer with ASB out of a selfish desire to improve their résumés. This concern is ludicrous and unfair. ASB has several barriers to entry that deter self-serving volunteers from participating. Completing the application, group interview and pre-departure training are all significant time commitments that attract only truly committed volunteers. Furthermore, the costs associated with ASB trips place a serious monetary burden on anyone wishing to simply pad a résumé. Such self-serving individuals are more likely to participate in an hour of relatively pain-free volunteering on Grounds than commit to an intense, week-long trip that costs them several hundred dollars. Finally, if self-serving participants do go on ASB trips, their selfish motives are channeled into overall altruistic endeavors that benefit themselves and others.
While not above critique or reproach, ASB participants and programs should not be blindly and unfairly maligned. The organization's application and interview processes, costs, mission, site selection and effectiveness have all been faulted. One thing we can't fault, however, is its results.
ASB annually benefits hundreds of University students and thousands of Virginians, Americans and foreigners. When considering volunteer service, I evaluate my efforts and effects by considering the following two questions. First, did I take on a challenge that no one else could or would attempt? Second, did I do something that wouldn't have been accomplished otherwise? ASB programs and participants answer "yes" to both assessments. Both should be commended rather than cynically critiqued for answering the call to serve.
James Rogers'is a Cavalier Daily Associate Editor. He can be reached at jrogers@cavalierdaily.com
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