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Law Student

Posted on: Thursday, 12 January 2006, 09:00 CST

By Lindsey Geisler Capital-Journal

Break from the books

New law school students help at Salvation Army

For new students at the Washburn University School of Law, the first week of classes is about more than course work.

The 23 students who began law school last week went to work at the Salvation Army, 1320 S.E. 6th, as part of their required community service project Saturday.

"I'm hoping that this will continue to help them gel as a team and an incoming class," said Kelly Anders, associate dean for student affairs.

The law school developed the event to demonstrate for students the importance of pro bono, or unpaid, work and community service. The event is organized for the beginning of each semester for new law students.

Anders said that having a small number of new students in the spring allows the group to focus on one service location. In contrast, 150 students volunteered at four places around the city this past fall.

This is the first time the group has volunteered at the Salvation Army, a faith-based nonprofit organization that helps the needy.

Past organizations that have benefited from the law school's service project include The Villages and Let's Help. Anders said she tries to expose the students to all types of community organizations and the differing needs in the community.

"I really like to mix it up," she said.

Darryl Winston, program and volunteer coordinator at the Salvation Army, said it was a joy to have the students take time out of their busy class schedules to help out.

"They're spread all of over the building doing great volunteer work for us," he said.

The volunteers helped the organization by building boxes, creating food baskets, cleaning the warehouse, doing yard work and catching up on some administrative tasks, such as filing and data entry.

"It's a bonding experience," said student Graham Winch, of Marietta, Ga. "It's a way better to spend your time than sleeping in."

Winch said the project also helped him and other students new to the area see and meet people in the community.

Folding boxes for future food baskets, Jeremy Claridge said he thought the project reflected well on the law school.

"It shows that students from all over the country are present and trying to make a difference," said Claridge, of Mesa, Ariz.

Lindsey Geisler is a freelance writer

in Topeka. She can be reached

at lindsey.geisler@gmail.com.

Source: Topeka Capital Journal

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