U Magazine, Fall 1987

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THE EDITOR'S DESK

Reaching out

The elderly San Diegan frowned. The sight of her untrimmed front lawn, the dust-covered windows and the bedraggled appearance of the shrubbery distressed her. But it was more than the lawn and the windows. Her life had turned upside down the past year, shortly after her husband of40 years had passed away. Now, just getting up each morning seemed difficult. She was looking forward to today, though. A team of USD students was coming by to help her catch up with household chores. The students were participating in the University's annual outreach weekend, two days during which students help local seniors mow lawns, wash windows, paint fences and complete other tasks. Just before noon, the shiny red pick-up pulled up. Out bounded five energetic students. They laughed and joked as they set to work. The woman smiled. Three hours later, the yard and house were transformed. The lawn was mowed and trimmed, the shrubs neatly manicured and the windows reflected the bright afternoon sunshine. The young people called out cheery good-byes as they piled back into the pick-up. The woman waved. She smiled again. People who care about people. It's a hallmark of the USD educational experience. Inside the classroom and out. Consider this: last year USD students contributed more than 60,000 hours of voluntary time to the San Diego community. Time spent visiting seniors in nursing homes, helping at Special Olympics, building homes in Tijuana, preparing meals for the homeless. USD President Author E. Hughes has strongly endorsed that kind of community service. Encouraging young people of college age to participate in altruistic ventures, he says, will carry over to their post-college lives. If USD graduates go into the world believing in the concept of public service, the society at large will benefit. You can read in this issue about one alumnus who brings that philosophy to his daily actions. William Jones '80 not only has served San Diego capably and honorably during his 15 years at city hall, he recently undertook an ambitious program aimed at ensuring a college or vocational education for inner city youths - kids who otherwise likely would drop out of school. Other alumni are similarly generous in their public service. And each individual story - just like the one about the woman who received help with her yardwork - revolves around people helping people. D DDDDD

John Sutherland

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