Michigan State University - Red Cedar Log Yearbook (East Lansing, MI)

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CREATIVE ALTERNATIVES Stained glass, flower arranging and dance aerobics were not part of a stu- dent’s normal curriculum. But for many East Lansing residents and other MSU students, those classes were part of their curriculum through the East Lansing Arts Workshop. “The workshop was an informal place where art could be taught and en- joyed,” acting director Eleanor Melcer said. ‘A group of artists and community leaders thought it would be nice to have an alternative education place for the city. A place where artists could come and meet and teach.” The East Lansing School Board was approached in 1972 and agreed to let the workshop use the lower floor of the old Marble School, on the corner of Bur- cham and Hagadorn. The first session only drew about 50 people, but in 1979, the school had over 500 adults enrolled and around 350 chil- dren per term. “It has taken a long time and a lot of struggle to get where we are,’’ Melcer remarked. From the four or five classes offered in 1972, the selection rose to over 70 classes, ranging f rom disco dancing to paper making. “We can tell by the growth in enroll- ment that people have become inter- ested in taking art classes,’’ Melcer said. “The classes are generally kept small so people can get more help.” The students were not graded and the most important reason for the school was to have people relax. “‘It is mostly for relaxation,’’ Melcer observed, “It is something people can take and not have to worry about grades. They come to learn a hobby and to meet people.”’ To help pay for the classes and teach- ers, the workshop charged students a small fee. A jazz class which ran for eight weeks cost $20 while a ten week pot- tery class cost $59. “We have always had a commitment to keep our courses low in price,’ Melcer said. Tuitions made up the bulk of the $150,000 annual budget, but the work- shop also received money from the city, state, and federal government. Talent shows and art sales were also held to raise money. The class instructors came from MSU and the surrounding area, coming to the workshop to offer their services. If the teachers demanded too much money, the workshop would turn them down, but usually the teachers kept their fees low. The classes that were taught reflect- ed the skills and interests of the teach- ers. “If we had enough teachers we could teach calligraphy (The art of beautiful handwriting) and aerobic dancing alll day,’’ declared Melcer. ‘‘The classes of- fered depend on the services offered plus ideas from the community. If there are enough people interested, we usu- ally try to find someone to teach it.” One teacher, Kathy Mikelsavage from Williamston, was persuaded to teach. “| came to the workshop and they found out | could teach calligraphy,’ Mikelsa- vage said. “There has been a real re- birth of interest in the art.” Steve Stauff, a Michigan State stu- dent majoring in Agricultural Economics, said the class offered him a chance to forget school. “It gives me a change from academ- ics,’’ Stauff said. ‘‘Plus, it is cheaper than on campus.’ The classes attracted a varying clien- tele. Housewives, students and even a dentist and an attorney were enrolled in the workshop. “| love flowers so that is why | took flower arranging,’” commented Brenda Turner, an attorney in the Attorney Gen- eral’s office. “It gives me something to do with my hands as oppossed to the more mental things | do during the day.” The feeling of doing something differ- ent was another reason behind the suc- cess of the school. Melcer said ‘‘The stu- dents get a good feeling when they have tried something which extends themselves. They find a new part of themselves and they enjoy it.” With the growth in enrollment and in- terest, Melcer said she saw better times ahead for the workshop. “| look at the past and | would sa) things are going to get better,’ she said. “We are getting stronger financial- ly and that allows you to offer more ad- vanced classes. Plus, the success looks good to grant givers in the government. We are not going to go backwards.”’ In the future Melcer hoped for more participation from MSU students and East Lansing residents.

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“och aio patoncees nF i ge RR MRIE Story and Photography by Neal Haldane.

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30 A MUTUAL ADOPTION BY BECKY MILLER Last year, over 100 MSU students had “grandparents” in the Lansing area, even though their homes and families may have been hundreds of miles away. These students were volunteers in MSU’s Adopt-A-Grandparent program, a program in which elderly people in the Lansing area were matched with MSU students. The volunteers visited their “grandparents’’ at least once a week. The various activities ranged from bak- ing break to jogging. “However, it wasn't necessarily what they were do- ing that was important,” said Susan Usti- shen, the program coordinator, ‘but just the fact that the student was getting together with the grandparent.” The total process of getting a grand- parent took three to four weeks. Pro- spective grandparents first were re- ferred to MSU by the Red Cross, County Medical Center or by their families. The grandparents were required to live in their own home without outside care. “To become a volunteer, students had to have at least three references, and had to go throug h a series of inter- views,”’ Ustishen said. “Students then chose which grandparent they wanted and went on a “trial match’ with their grandparent to see if they were com- patible.”’ The Adopt-A-Grandparent program had been popular among both students and elderly people in the Lansing area. The demand was so great, that it was even necessary to advertise for pro- spective grandparents. In the past, many people have called on Adopt-A- Grandparent to refer themselves be- cause they wanted a grandchild. The Adopt-A-Grandparent program benefited both the grandparents and volunteers. For the grandparents, the volunteers became good friends and gave them someone to talk to. Some of the volunteers also ran er- rands for their grandparents. “‘It is diffi- cult for my grandmother to walk,’’ vol- unteer Marilyn Christenson said. ‘So | ran errands that were difficult for her such as shopping and taking her to the doctor. Of course, she appreciates both visiting and help.”’ “For me, it was a big accomplishment if | got my grandmother out of the house once a month,” volunteer Doris Weiss said. The volunteers involved felt that they also received benefits from the pro- gram. Many felt going into the commu- nity was a nice diversion from classes. “The environment is so limited at col- lege,” said volunteer Beth Wagner. “You only meet people aged 18-22. | wanted a touch with the outside world,” Many of the students felt that volun- teering helped them learn a great deal about older people. “| am now more realistic about old people and what its like to be old,”’ said Christenson. ‘Now | realize old people have their own set of personalities and can be very complex. They are complete individuals.’’ Beth Wagner said her grandmother, who was from Poland, gave her large amounts of wisdom. “‘It is nice to see a different perspective on life,’’ Wagner said. “| gained more from my grand- mother than | could have ever possibly given her.” For most of the volunteers, their greatest pleasure was to make their grandmother happy. “This program benefited me personally because | made someone’s day a little brighter,”’ Ustishen said. “It’s nice just to see recognition in someone’s face when they see you,” program coordinator Julie Harrison said. “It makes me feel good when my grandfather is happy to see me again.” The Adopt-A-Grandparent program helped unite the MSU campus and Lan- sing community. It provided friendship to the elderly, and also created an outlet for students outside of the classroom. As one volunteer said: “it was a nice way to brighten up a day for both sides in- volved.” INTERACTION Susan Brown ee