Service-oriented students already have an umbrella organization for their groups — soon, they could get a roof.
A group of undergraduates filed an application with the Residential Council for a social activism-based program house Nov. 18. According to the application, the house would "create an intentional community of students who want social justice, social activism and community service to be a central component of their Brown experience."
"Commitment to activism is an active lifestyle," said Ben Chesler '15, the driving force behind the proposal. "We're going to have people who are active 24/7 with a level of energy that is focused on improving the community."
Chesler came up with the idea after he learned that ResCouncil was accepting applications for program houses to fill the void created by the termination of Interfaith House. After mentioning the idea at a gathering of the University Community Academic Advising Program, a pre-Orientation advising program with a service focus, Chesler held a meeting Nov. 6 to discuss and flesh out the proposal with interested students.
"We wanted something that would involve the entire campus community through social activism," Chesler said. "It's something that we think will foster new collaboration between all the social activists and service organizations on campus."
By facilitating collaboration, a social service program house would foster new ideas for projects and help strengthen old ones, according to Chesler. Because they would be living together, student activists would be able to develop and work on service projects constantly.
If the proposal is accepted, Chesler said he thinks the house will host many service-oriented events. He also hopes to initiate an annual collaborative service project between house residents.
To develop the proposal, Chesler consulted with Alan Flam, director of advising and community collaborations at the Swearer Center for Public Service. According to Chesler, Flam helped the students patch up flaws in the application.
"Part of the work of the Swearer Center is to impact the educational experience of students by encouraging and provoking conversations about community service and social change," Flam said. "A residential community that gathers students together with a shared focus on community work can be a powerful place for these conversations to take place."
Though many campus groups offer service opportunities, supporters of the proposal hope the program house will encourage new ways of approaching service.
"If everyone is living together, then students can get a broad perspective on all of the issues they are working on," said Angela Ramponi '15, one of several students who helped Chesler draft the application. "It will enable us to see what issues aren't being covered and to come together to address those issues."
ResCouncil and the Office of Residential Life plan to announce which program house application will be selected sometime this month.
