Social Change

In IS we were given the Wartburg College Social Change “wheel.”  There are eight different categories, each with different types of activities that would be an example of something we could participate in and kind of define ourselves as.  One is direct service, which includes programs such as service trips, the Volunteer Action Committee, Habitat for Humanity, and resident assistants.  Another is community/economic development, including awareness campaigns, leadership positions, and campus ministry.  Voting/formal political activities consists of voting in both student and community elections and attending political events.  Direct action examples would comprise of student organizations such as SMART and AWARE and writing a letter to the editor of the trumpet.  Grass-roots political activity/public policy work category includes honors council, student senate suggestion boxes and institutional committee membership.  A community builder could participate in a variety of activities, including floor events, student senate, residence projects, or Feed My Starving Children.  Advocacy through community education examples would be writing for the Trumpet, working for KWAR, or becoming part of any organization since most groups go out into the community.  The final category of the social change wheel is socially responsible daily behavior, which consists of keeping a clean environment, greet people as you pass them, be accountable, and follow the honor code.

                Looking at these categories, I believe I mainly fall in between socially responsible daily behavior and direct service.  I like to keep my living and common area clean because that is respectful to others, I follow the honor code, and sometimes greet others as I walk by, although not always.  For direct service I am a member of the Volunteer Action Committee and am planning on going on a service trip this winter break because I want to help others.  Another thing I am involved in is Dance Marathon, which I believe would fall under community/economic development or direct service.  These are all great opportunities that I would not have had if I stayed back home.