NEWS

Community service sparked by Bonner program

Study suggests retention linked to service in community

by Brian H. Pitts

She was worried about the charges. And with good reason. If a change was not made, the cost of returning to Oberlin next year would be to much to bear.

The bill was way too high, way too far from the estimate. "Oh my gosh, this can't be right," first-year student Seson Taylor said.

Then her advocate with the financial aid office came to the rescue. Mark Blackman OC'89 strolled down to the financial aid office and chatted with Associate Director Brian Lindeman. And now, Taylor plans to be back in Oberlin next fall.

She is a one of 19 Bonner Scholars in the class of 2001 and 58 in total, who have come to know Blackman, Director of the Bonner Scholars program out of the Center for Service and Learning.

"He is a resource, father and friend," Taylor said. "He asks me, 'How are you doing? You aren't too stressed?' And I ask him, 'Where should I go for this?' If he can't tell me, he will direct me to someone."

Blackman directs the Bonner Scholar program. The program provides a full work-study award to students who complete 10 hours of community service per week during the school year. He describes the main objective of his job is to support students of color, first-generation or low income. "I have made myself available to students who just needed some counseling or support, to help them navigate the waters of Oberlin. I'm their advocate in financial aid, and help them find support on campus," he said.

According to College President Nancy Dye, the African-American Student Retention Survey, conducted in Spring 1997, established that students who involve themselves in community service are more likely to graduate than other students.

The three-year old Center for Service and Learning links students with community organizations and guides students to winter term and summer projects. These projects may help students find reasons beyond Oberlin's campus to finish their course of study.

First-year Bonner Scholar Oshon Temple alluded to the importance of community service in making Oberlin his home. "I live here, I work here, and I don't want to get wrapped up solely in Oberlin the campus. Oberlin is a city. Sometimes you hear students, and me as well, joke about being in the boonies. Nevertheless, Oberlin is the real world in any sense. People here are going through problems that are just as real as any person's problems anywhere else."

Bonner Scholars share their experiences outside of Oberlin with each other. Taylor said she would be lost without the resource of individuals of the Bonner Scholar program. "Oh my gosh, I would not know what to do," she said. "I would be running around like a chicken with its head cut off. I've benefited a great deal from other people. As for other students? I don't know."

Other students must turn elsewhere to get support. Blackman said his reputation for helping students is spreading. Students who are not Bonner Scholars often come to see him. "I see about three students a day," he said.

What was the racial composition of the students in your high school?
Mostly black 31%
Mostly white 52%
Mixed race 18%

Were you involved in any of the following activites at Oberlin? (each number represents those who did participate in the activity)
Athletics 48%
Community Service 65%
Student Government 24%
OSCA 16%
ExCo 75%
Musical groups 41%
Fraternities/Sororities 22%

Did you hold ay leadership positions on campus?
Yes 57%
No 43%

Where did you live in Oberlin while you were a student? (the four different values represent the percentage for each year of a student's career.)
Afrikan Heritage House
27%
40%
37%
34%

Other on-campus
54%
43%
42%
33%

OSCA, other Program Houses
6%
12%
10%
4%

Off-campus
2%
5%
22%
39%

Did you ever feel socially isolated from other students?
Yes 41%
No 59%

Did you ever feel isolated from other black students?
Yes 49%
No 51%

How do you feel about the racial and ethnic diversity of the faculty?
Very dissatsified 21%
Dissatisfied 61%
Satisfied 18%
Very satisfied 0%

How do you feel about race relations on campus?
Very dissatisfied 8%
Dissatisfied 51%
Satisfied 40%
Very satisfied 1%

Did you graduate from Oberlin?
Yes 78%
No 22%

Would you recommend Oberlin to other black students who are interested in attending college?
Yes 53%
No 47%

Back // News Contents \\ Next

T H E   O B E R L I N   R E V I E W

Copyright © 1997, The Oberlin Review.
Volume 126, Number 8, November 7, 1997

Contact us with your comments and suggestions.