South Macomb Community College - Cornerstone Yearbook (Warren, MI)

Page 79 text:

ho? Q u 's' ,gf Ax, at 1 344 . I f 1 A ' '-1 1 ' ' -1 1 .nfs-.3 K , N ' -- , -1 5'k??f2?f5'T -f J!'5 f in Ib,v: .,,,Ay u- L , .u- A V 'f 1-if-qu' ,r IF' 4. A , .. '-' ,-.3 ' ' Q, 1, I, L 'H - ' ' 7' wwf yi '

Page 78 text:

r H, 4 Box 407 -.. ' Taos, New Mexico ' April 4, 1963 Dear Fellow Students , In February of 1963, as I left SMCC for service in the Peace Corps,I saw a door close on perhaps the most rewarding part of my life so far. To me SMCC has been more than just a college or student bodyg it has been a living dream. It has been education in many facets of life, aca- demic, social, and practical for thousands who might otherwise not have had an opportunity to gain a college education. SMCC also has meant friends and fellow students and it has also been an experience in basic growth of an institution with these friends and fellow students. I will always look back on my years at SMCC with a warm heart and fond memories. But a new, challenging, and very worthwhile experi- ence lies ahead, so I should not linger on what has been accomplished but look at what is happening now and what lies ahead. In this light I see that training in the Peace Corps, and service in Colombia, South America are my present and future and I wish, in at least a small way, to share this experience with you. The training program for the Colombian Rural Community Action project at the University of New Mexico has certainly been a busy one. We fthe traineesj attended classes in World Affairs, Area Studies, U.S. Institutions, Spanish, Physical Education, Medical Self-Help, and Community Develop- ment. We learned to speak Spanish, play soccer, understand all facets of life in Colombia, know the threat of Communism and understand more thoroughly our governrnent's and society's institutions. In addition to the academic studies, we also learned to operate all types of machinery that we might use in Colombia, we sharpened our skills in construction and facility maintenance, and we exercised our muscles by climbing the 10,000 foot Sandia Crest near Albuquerque, New Mexico. These first eight weeks of training gave us the general background needed for service in Colombia. Yet, the first eight weeks didn't complete our training. On April third we were taken to Taos, New Mexico: a small town in the northern part of the State which is in need of community development. The great majority of the 7000 citizens are decendents of the Spanish explorers of the 1500's and their town is of the old pueblo style. At this time of writing I am in Taos and in the midst of training. All of the trainees are here to re- ceive additional instruction in Spanish, learn horsemanship, further develop our technical skills on the D. H. Lawrence Ranch, and to gain practical experience in Community Development by working with the people of Taos on their own project. Our conditions in Taos consist of dormitory living in an old adobe house with very tight conditionsfone must step outside to let a mosquito-bite swelll. We are transported from job to job by a 16-year old bus and our daily clothing is Levis, boots, and sweatshirts. The experience is certainly a different one for me and I find the whole program very exciting. In addition to a description of the training I would also like to include a few words about the projected program in Colombia. Contrary to popular belief, our basic purpose and the basic purpose of the en- tire Peace Corps is not to necessarily develop communities or countries physically, although it cer- tainly is a by-product of our work. The purpose of the Peace Corps is to help the people of underde- veloped countries to help themselves and to assist in creating better understanding between peoples on an individual level. While engaging in the work in Colombia, conditions will not be the best. We are sure to have fleas, there are various worms and diseases we can contract from the food and unboiled water, and our only transportation will be our own horse. I might also add that Colombian bandit bands have murdered 300,000 people in the past 15 years. Each of us will be stationed with one other volunteer in a small town or village in the rural area. We will engage in organizing the community citizens and from that point we will step back to act only in a consultant and fellow worker capacity. Of course two years in the rural area of Colombia will be very lonely and difficult at times but the goal of progress and international understanding certainly outweighs the disadvantages. During my service some people of Colombia will show their dislike for the Peace Corps and others Will be apa- thetic toward the work being done but from those people who take interest and work to better them- selves will come the satisfaction for me and the others of our project. While I am gone I will sincerely miss SMCC and the friends I appreciate so much. The experience at SMCC as a student and as the Student Government President has been a rewarding one for me and I hope a useful one for the school. Good-bye, and my very best to all of you. Sincerely,

Page 80 text:

What does economlcs offer that 1S so enjoyable ? ? Mr Nord1n offers some constructwe er1t1c1sm to one of h1S more mdustrl ous students ':w Mr Ebblng 1S always Wllllng to asslst any student 1n South Macomb's L1brary 74