Moreau Center spring plunges offer students the chance to build community away from The Bluff
By Jessie Hethcoat
Instead of spending spring break on your parents' couch this year, why not go on one of the Moreau Center's alternative breaks and immersions? These trips can change the way students view the world, as well as their own lives.
"The Nicaragua Immersion is the highlight of my college career thus far," sophomore Kevin Hershey said.
The Nicaragua Immersion, a three-week trip immediately following the end of spring semester, is one of the Moreau Center's most popular plunges. Students on this trip learn a great deal about the negative affects of U.S. policy on Latin America.
In the Nicaragua Immersion, students usually experience one or two homestays with campisinos, or farm workers. Students are not required to speak Spanish, but Spanish-speaking students are encouraged to attend to help translate.
Hershey's experience in Nicaragua was a highly positive experience that has inspired him to get more involved with the Moreau Center this year. As a service and justice coordinator for Tyson and Haggerty halls, Hershey is one of the Moreau Center's new leaders.
"The plunges are about taking on a different lifestyle and being able to see diversity in the world and amongst UP students," Hershey said.
Michelle Chang, program assistant for the Moreau Center, is also an advocate of the service plunges. This year, Chang will be on the Nicaragua trip working on a mini-documentary for the Moreau Center as her own project.
"The plunges give you a broader picture of what's going on and outlets to do something about it," Chang said.
She describes the trips as informational, and for many students, the highlight of their year.
"We also call them service learning trips," Chang said. "This indicates that it is a way to expand your education outside the classroom."
Junior Erick Marble has been on half a dozen plunges already. He is a strong advocate of the service-learning idea.
"I think some people get turned off by the idea that the trips are service learning, but in my personal opinion, it's the most productive way that this program could be," Marble said.
One of his favorite aspects of the plunge is the community building that happens between students.
"It takes a few days to break down barriers, but afterwards, there's pretty strong group bonding," Marble said.
Marble attended the 2007 Service Plunge, the Collegiate Challenge in spring 2008, the Rural Plunge in fall 2008, the Urban Policy Plunge in winter 2008, the Native Alaska trip of Spring 2009 and was a team leader this year for the Service Plunge.
Both Chang and Marble recommend beginning with the Rural Plunge, Collegiate Challenge or Urban Plunge. According to Chang, the other plunges require more preparation and are more intense.
While deadline for fall break and longer summer trips passed on Sept. 23, there are still applications available for the Urban Policy Plunge, Border Plunge, Collegiate Challenge and the Native Alaskan Plunge.
"My advice is to apply to a lot of different plunges because that way, you're more likely to get accepted to one," Marble said. "It also shows the Moreau Center that you're interested in taking part."
The application has a series of short answer questions for each plunge and other basic informational questions to answer.
The newest plunge, the Environmental Justice Plunge, will take place this coming fall break and still has spots available. Taking place in Portland, that plunge is a shorter, lower commitment trip that still has all the benefits of a plunge.
As for development in the Moreau Center's plunge program, Chang is focused on working on the plunges they have now.
An East Africa Immersion is in its earliest stages now. Closer to a service internship, students will be assigned to work with agencies that best suit their interest.
"I think we definitely want to make sure that what we have, we're doing well," Chang said. "All of us would like to see the programs expand - both in number of programs and depth."
