The 595 members of the Class of 2000 arrived on campus to be greeted by new roommates, class advisors-and paintbrushes, brooms, and rakes.
The first-year students participated in a range of community service projects during two days of their orientation. The projects were coordinated through Schenectady 2000, a community-wide revitalization program in which Union students, faculty, and staff serve regularly as volunteers.
President Roger H. Hull, who is vice chair of Schenectady 2000, said, “Part of a liberally-educated person is recognizing that there is a civic responsibility to contribute something back to society. It is my hope that all Union students-besides studying here for four years-will vote and volunteer and help make Schenectady a better community.”
The freshmen helped paint bridges, plant shrubs, remove debris and brush, and install children's playground equipment in a city park.
The orientation project is the latest in a tradition of community service by Union students. During recent years, forty percent of the College's students have participated in such projects as:
- Big Brothers/Big Sisters, where ninety students represent sixty-five percent of the total local volunteers;
- We-Care-About-U-Schenectady, where forty students have helped rebuild half a dozen homes for lower-income families;
- Mentoring and internship programs for several hundred pupils in Schenectady elementary, middle, and high schools;
- Youth Olympics, organized by more than 100 students and run for Schenectady children;
- Painting the City Mission as part of “Make a Difference Day;”
- Girl Scout Troop 436, begun by students and staff, which meets weekly at the College;
- UMED, a club that provides emergency medical support at the College and which now helps a local ambulance corps.