Alternative Breaks marks 10 years

In 1989, Catherine Colyer thought it would be a good idea to do something constructive during Spring Break, as opposed to the routine fun-and-sun escapades associated with college students and vacations.

So she proposed that students volunteer to work at culturally and economically diverse parts of the country. That spring, the first Alternative Break took place, with 25 participants traveling to San Juan, Texas, and Immokalee, Fla., to work with the United Farm Workers organization and Habitat for Humanity.

The Wisconsin Union Directorate liked the concept so much that Alternative Breaks soon had its own committee. The Alt Breaks Committee since has been a stable part of WUD, with nearly 1,400 students volunteering at 20 different sites around the country.

Alt Breaks will celebrate these last 10 years Thursday, Feb. 3, at 6:30 p.m. in Tripp Commons, Memorial Union.

The celebration features a slides taken by Alt Break volunteers during the past decade of their experiences from working at Marthaís Table Soup Kitchen in Washington, D.C., the planting organic vegetables with United Farm Workers Union in San Juan, Texas and building homes with Habitat for Humanity in New Orleans and Miami, among others.

Guest speakers will include Audrey Fontana of the Catholic Charities of New Orleans, as well as Colyer.

UW–Madison students are eligible for Alternative Breaks, which also include Winter and Summer Breaks as well. Costs range from $200 to $350.

An application form and information on upcoming Alt Break destinations are available online.

For more information, contact Jennifer Collins at 262-7896; jlcolli3@students.wisc.edu