BYU NewsNet - Service goes random at BYU

By KRIS BOYLE

kris@newsroom.byu.edu

A small group of BYU students are looking to clean up campus in an unusual way and they want more students to help.

Random Acts of Service is holding a service project today in hopes of increasing participation, Johansen said. They will be washing car windows in the Y lot next to the Stephen L. Richards Building from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Johansen said they washed car windows two weeks ago and enjoyed it so much that the organization decided to try it again.

Random Acts of Service is an organization set up to offer just that, random acts of service, Johansen said. The group has done various projects this year already, from putting up the maps of campus at the beginning of the semester to making thank-you banners for construction workers. Johansen said there is at least one project a month.

But participation in the group has also been random, Johansen said. When they washed windows two weeks ago, only a handful of students were there, he said. Johansen said they set up a booth, passed out flyers and asked members of their e-mail list to forward the message about today's project onto one friend.

Johansen said when the organization officers decide on the projects, they survey members on their e-mail list on when a good time would be. He said setting up a specific time usually narrows down the number of participants.

Brenley Lewis, executive director of Community Service with BYUSA, said she feels the lack of participation comes because it's not a well-known organization.

"Most students volunteer for programs that are ongoing because they are the more common ones. In time it will get bigger, though" Lewis said.

Lewis said can Random Acts of Service can help both parties.

"There are students who are being served and students who are given the chance to serve," Lewis said.

Johansen said the organization offers students a chance to participate in a service project as well as provide them with projects ideas to take with them.

"From my personal experience, Random Acts of Service has made me feel part of the student body and that I've made a difference," Johansen said.