Are students helping out in Louisiana instead of whooping it up for spring break?
The Focus Responds: The short answer: Some are. We received a press release from Cathy Collentine, the student chair of WISPIRG (the Wisconsin Student Public Interest Research Group), who believes that many students at the University of Wisconsin defy the college spring break stereotype. She points specifically to over 300 Wisconsin students that are directly involved in social and reconstructive efforts over their “alternative” spring break. “Instead of beer cans in their hands, students involved with WISPIRG and many other organizations are putting on work gloves,” says Cathy Collentine, whose group is sending over 110 students down to New Orleans. “It says a lot about my generation and the University of Wisconsin that so many students are giving up a chance to relax or make money to help those in need.” The popularity of service opportunities is growing rapidly out in Madison. “The demand to give back has been overwhelming,” says Courtney Davis, WISPIRG spring break trip organizer