Clinton's Americorps underway

President's program lets students pay for college with volunteer work

The service program President Clinton promised during the 1992 presidential campaign to help college students pay for their educations was launched Sept. 12.

The AmeriCorps national service progam requires students to serve a one-year term with a community service organization, which is equal to 1,700 hours of volunteer work. In exchange for this service, a $4,725 stipend will be awarded toward the students' college education or to pay off a student loan.

Participants may also receive health care, child care and a $7,500 living allowance for the year. Students can serve for a maximum of two years - either before, during or after college.

Part-time service is available for those who decide to volunteer whil e enrolled in school.

"AmeriCorps is not just a program, it is a movement - a movement of young Americans imbued with the American spirit," Vice President Al Gore said during a swearing-in event for AmeriCorps volunteers at the White House.

T he plan, enacted one year ago, focuses on serving communities in four areas: education, environment, public safety and human needs.

"These are four critical areas of the country where we need help and tremendous problems exist," said Wendy Grassi, spokeswoman for the AmeriCorps program. "We don't claim to solve (all problems), but to make a huge impact in solving some of America's biggest problems."

When students apply to AmeriCoprs, they can request any specific area of service and any region of the country they would like to work in. Volunteers serving in the area of education would perform such duties as teaching literacy and other basic skills to parents of young children.

Public safety services entails reducing crime problems such as drug dealing, domestic violence and child abuse. Those working with the environment would help reduce waste through energy efficiency efforts, recycling and other conservation measures.

In helping with human needs, AmeriCorps will provide in dependent living assistance and health care to the homebound elderly, people with disabilities and those living with AIDS.

So far, 15,000 people have signed up for the program, but that number is expected to increase to 20,000 by the end of the year. Grassi said AmeriCorps is expecting 100,000 volunteers by the end of its third year.

At the White House ceremony, President Clinton said that "Service is a spark to rekindle the spirit of democracy in an age of uncertainty."

Cal State Long Beach political science Professor William Leiter also praised the program.

"AmeriCorps will provide public service jobs that will be very beneficial to students at a college level," Leiter said. "It's a fantastic opportunity."

Edwin Roberts, an other CSULB political science professor, echoed Leiter's comments.

"Basic on-the-job training will give students a sense of civic duty and a responsibility to the community and the nation," Roberts said.

Freshman art major Victor Hsieh said t he program sounded appealing to him. "I feel it will provide students with a chance to really do something positive for the world," Hsieh said. "It would help me earn some cash and at the same time help others out."

AmeriCorps is open to people fro m any economic background over the age of 17. There is no specific GPA requirement.

For more information or to volunteer, call 1-800-94-ACORP.