To the Editor:

Re: “Room for Improvement,” Opinion, April 21.

I was surprised to read in The Sun a critique of the Public Service Center’s outreach efforts. In last week’s editorial on lagging volunteerism here at Cornell, the focus seemed to be on the 60 percent of students who participated in the PULSE survey but do not engage in community service on a regular basis. The survey polled only 46 percent of the Cornell student community, and while substantial, does not give a full picture of civic engagement or even volunteerism. Cornell’s numbers, according to PULSE, are close to the national average of 44.1 percent of college students who serve regularly (from “College Students Helping America” 2006 report by the federal Corporation for National and Community Service). Since its establishment, the PSC has set up multiple organizational venues for student engagement such as: academic service learning opportunities in over 65 courses, paid positions in local and national non-profit organizations through the Community Work Study Program and REACH, co-curricular service learning through student-run organizations of the PSC, and individual and group community service opportunities locally and abroad. Into the Streets, Cornell’s largest day of service is an example of episodic volunteer work, but volunteer opportunities are always available for weekly and monthly involvement. Information is available online at www.psc.cornell.edu and at our office, 200 Barnes Hall.

PSC programs engage over 6,000 students annually, and we collaborate with a broad set of campus and local organizations to arrange volunteer, community organizing and community-based learning opportunities for all members of our Cornell family. Our goal is for students to engage in meaningful service and learning experiences while at Cornell and we hope that President Obama’s Call to Service will bring more students through the doors of 200 Barnes Hall, ready and excited to contribute!

Susan Duan ’09

Student Manager, Public Service Center