[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 35 (Thursday, March 24, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 24, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT'S URBAN SEMESTER 
                                PROGRAM

 Mr. DODD. Mr. President, this year marks the 25th anniversary 
of the University of Connecticut's Urban Semester Program, and I would 
like to take a few moments to salute this innovative initative.
  Students taking part in this program spend a semester in the city of 
Hartford, where they take part in public service internships and weekly 
seminars on urban topics. Students don't just learn about the reality 
of urban America from a textbook: They live it.
  Student activities range from social work to civil rights, from local 
government to environmental activism, from community organizing to 
human services.
  Now is fitting time to honor urban semester because we are witnessing 
the creation of a new national service program that embraces the same 
principles on which the University of Connecticut's program was 
founded.
  National service, like urban semester, is a win-win-win program. The 
communities where the volunteers serve win from the infusion of talent 
and energy that the volunteers provide. The volunteers themselves also 
win by gaining valuable experience and the satisfaction that comes from 
service. Finally, and most importantly, we all win from the renewal of 
the ideal of service that both urban semester and the President's 
national service initiative symbolize.
  It should therefore come as no surprise that urban semester has 
received rave reviews from both community leaders in Hartford and 
students who have participated. Indeed, many University of Connecticut 
students look back on their urban semester as the highlight of their 
college careers.
  Urban semester has been so successful because it recognizes a simple 
truth: Education is about much more than touching books, it is about 
touching lives. I therefore believe it is appropriate to commend this 
program on its 25th anniverary.

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