.. A failed attempt for Cabrini to lead a hand

by Hollie Havens copy editor

In a crowd of over 5.000 people, there were specks of Cabrini College visors and T-shirts weaved throughout Marcus Foster Stadium.

Amid the media. presidents and celebrities, over 30 students and faculty and administration members participated in the Presidents' Summit for America's Future on Sunday. April 27 in North Philadelphia.

That is, with the hopes of participating.

Arriving shortly after IO a.m Cabrini representatives hopped off a yellow school bus to volunteer in a historical effort.

Because of a dense crowd and many blocked-off streets, the participants were moved from corner to corner outside the stadium as the kick-off of the summit began inside.

Weaving through crowds in a "buddy chain," the Cabrini representatives arrived at the gates of the stadium after heading off many delays.

Passing through metal detectors and bag searches, the participants moved to step one in the program, getting job assignments and colored T-shirts.

But there was only one problemthere were no job assignments available.

"Their [summit organizers] problem was that we didn't arrive on time," Shirley Dixon, student liaison to service learning, said.

"I was under the impression that we were pre-registered. By the time we got here, all of the assignments were given out and they didn't have anything for us to do."

Assignments to clean up 60 blocks of Germantown Avenue were given on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Dixon organized Cabnni 's participation m the summit. Collectjng names of students, faculty and administrative members who wanted to volunteer, Dixon registered each person via phone on Wednesday, April 9.

''It was important to have a colored Tshirt in order to be assigned to a certain area," Dixon said.

Each summit participant was given a colored T-shirt, therefore, dividing the crowd into groups.

Because of tight security, no one without a colored T-shirt could be on Germantown Avenue.

The only option was to go back to school.

Senior Kristine Crowe was one of the many who were disappointed and not satisfied with the option.

"I was angered that Cabrini College was denied," Crowe said. "I pushed my way to the front of the stage to get Mayor Rendell's attention."

Crowe succeeded in getting Rendell's attention, but she was not delighted in his response to why Cabrini did not receive assignments.

"His response was, 'I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do for you' and he shrugged his shoulders with a look of 'oh, well,'" Crowe said.

Crowe then spoke with a woman in charge of the summit. According to Crowe, the woman said she did not expect everyone who registered to show up. The woman also commented on Cabrini's supposed tardiness.

"I proceeded to tell her that we were on time, but the guards restricted us from getting in," Crowe said. Crowe then shouted to Rendell, "I want something done about this. I never heard of such a thing as volunteers not getting the chance to perform their service."

The Sacred Heart Hall computer labs will close of Tuesday, May 6 at 1 a.m.

Due to the SHH renovation project, these labs will be unavailable until classes resume in September.

What does this mean to you?

E-mail and Internetserviceswill not be available.

Novellnetworkapplications(word processing,spreadsheets,specialprograms) will not be available.

What alternative services will be available to students?

In the library,21 computerswith word processing,spreadsheet,database,and presentationsoftwarewill be availableduring libraryhours.

In the RooyrnansCenter,three computerswith word processingsoftwarewill be availableduring CAReCenterhours.

What should you do before the May 6 deadline?

Copyto a floppydisk any files you have saved on the academicnetwork.

Unsubscribefrom Jistservs.

Notifyyour friends and familythat you cannotbe reachedvia e-mail. Completeany computer-basedassignmentsbeforeMay 6.

After this, Rendell stepped up to the podium and apologized to the population of people who could not volunteer at the summit.

His recommendation was for these people to return to their own neighborhoods to make a difference by cleaning up. Crowe was not happy.

"This to me was still not enough," Crowe said. "I'm disappointed and I feel my expectations of a leader, such as Rendell, were shot down. Instead of encouraging us to be leaders, they have discouraged us. What kind of role model is he?"

Crowe's disappointment was shared by others.

"I wanted to participate today because I enjoy volunteering," sophomore Brandie Plasket said.

"My expectations were that we were going to go out and meet people and make a difference by painting and cleaning up. I feel disappointed. I keep seeing people walking by with T-shirts and they are not volunteering," Plasket said.

Cabrini representatives left the stadium and returned to Hunting Park Avenue outside Simon Gratz High School.

One Cabrini van was readily available and half of the Cabrini members left.

The rest waited for almost two hours for transportation back to school.

While waiting, Cabrini members commented on the day.

"It's a disappointment to not be able to participate," Dr. Tom Boeke, academic provost and dean, said. "But the event was symbolic of a kick start. Volunteerism is something that goes on forever.

"The students are disappointed, but they are not bitter," Boeke said.

Zita Derham, administrative assistant to the provost and academic dean, agreed.

"I thought that, as a group, we would be able to do something for the area," Derham said.

"However, I believe it is a good cause and we can do things in our area Any work we do for each other is the work of Mother Cabrini.

Gathered on the comer, Cabrini members began to mobilize. They decided to clean up the small area of land outside the Nicetown Boys and Girls Club.

While substituting this service for the service they were hoping to do, a sociology teacher from Simon Gratz High School, who was painting bathrooms with some of her students, came out of the building to thank Cabrini College for cleaning up the area.

The high school plans to make the small piece of land an ecology site with homes for butterflies, bugs and birds.

This act of service was followed by lunch that was provided by Boeke. As students, faculty and administrative members sat down to eat, they engaged in conversation about the day.

Dixon commented, "Cabrini students felt this was a great opportunity to help Philadelphia and make history."

And that is exactly what they did. Despite the disappointment of the day, students boarded the bus knowing that they left their mark on Philadelphia on the comer of Hunting Park Avenue and 18th Street.