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May 10, 2002
A Different Kind of Spring Break
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| Sigs pose proudly in front of their work. |
In recent years, Spring Break has become an explosive phenomenon amongst college students. Many engage in weeklong parties and beach blasts in sunny paradises to forget about life for a week. However, the men of the Iota Sigma Chapter of Sigma Chi opted for a different sort of break. In the first week of March, nineteen brothers accompanied by three faculty members traveled to Ft. Meyers, Florida to build houses with the Habitat for Humanity program as well as take part in a weeklong discussion about vocation.
The trip was made possible by a $7,800 grant from The Valparaiso University Project on the Theological Discernment of Vocation, an entity charged with distributing monies granted from the Lilly Foundation in order to promote theological discernment of vocation. The aim is to assist students exploring the idea of vocation — and what each individual is called to do in his or her life.
A long two-day journey facilitated by the able driving skills of faculty members Dr. Mike Johnson (Sociology), Dr. Larry Mainstone (Marketing) and Dr. David Weber (Theology), was required to reach the sunny destination. Brothers passed the time with competitive Euchre tournaments, Trivial Pursuit competitions, and sleep while the drivers questioned their sanity in agreeing to accompany 18 college men on their Spring Break.
Each day brothers would rise before 7:00 A.M. before heading off to the Habitat worksite where they engaged in roofing, plumbing, electrical, and exterior work, amongst many other activities. A site supervisor along with several other volunteers worked with the Sigma Chi crew to help push four houses close to completion while raising the walls of another.
Hard Workin’ Men
The daily 6:30 A.M. wakeup call administered by an all-to-eager Ben Gustafson (12) jolted brothers out of their beds, reminding them that on this Spring Break, sleeping was not a key component. Staying at a Baptist retreat center on Ft. Meyer’s beach, groups of brothers took turns cooking breakfast and dinner and preparing sack lunches for the days’ work.
After eating, brothers set off to work at a Habitat for Humanity housing site. Habitat is an organization that utilizes volunteers in order to build affordable houses for low-income families (Habitat for Humanity is available at http://www.habitatforhumanity.com/). Day one saw brothers focusing primarily on the roofs and exteriors of four houses in a new Habitat neighborhood. Junior Cayle Tompkins, having worked previously in the roofing industry helped assist the site supervisor in showing less-experienced brothers what to do.
“We just listened to Cayle,” commented Adam Schrank (10). “We didn’t know what we were doing but he seemed to have a clue—so we let him order us around.”
The day’s work also brought a welcome surprise. Working at the site was Sig Jerry Havill (University of Rochester ’54), who retired to Florida, spending much of his time helping Habitat.
“That was one of the highlights of the week for me,” commented Brian Niec (11). “It was pretty cool to come to Florida to give a little back and be able to do it alongside a fellow Sigma Chi.”
The second day brought the men back to the same site, this time focusing on electrical work, plumbing, and perhaps most enjoyable, the digging of a hole for a septic tank.
“That was one big hole,” commented Marty Rathmann (11), describing the 5-foot deep hole that numerous brothers made their focus. “It took us forever but it was worth it.”
Day three saw the raising of a house, literally from the ground up. Upon arrival at the site, all that existed was a concrete slab and pre-fabricated walls, lying on the ground. By the time the day was over there stood the resemblance of a house—an experience very fulfilling after one day’s work.
“It’s great to be able to see the fruits of your labor,” commented Steve Zittergruen (12), responsible for the grant proposal and planning for the trip. “Being able to walk away at the end of the day and seeing so much progress was fulfilling.”
Vocation: Exploring What We’re Doing—And Why We’re Doing It
The trip’s theme provided for not only hard work during the day under the Florida sun but also a time in the evening to rest and contemplate, focusing not only the work that was being done that week, but also the work that each brother might be doing for the rest of their lives. The question, “What am I meant to be doing with my life—and for what purpose?” was asked often.
Dr. David Weber, Assistant Professor of Theology at Valparaiso University, led daily discussions about vocation, using a collection of works edited by VU Professor Gilbert Meileander in order to stimulate discussion and encourage self-reflection. Brothers read a variety of pieces to provide background for conversation, including the philosophy of Aristotle and Karl Marx, the literary works of Leo Tolstoy and Mark Twain, and even a commentary on baseball by columnist George F. Will. Time would be spent discussing the readings—and how each brother saw the idea of ‘calling’ fitting into their lives.
Discussion often would turn into debate, while topics of ethics, corporate responsibility, relaxation, and the 60-hour workweek were argued and deliberated.
“I think our discussion time went very well,” commented junior, Bryan Callahan. “It was cool to listen to what some of the guys had to say. It made me think a lot about some things in my life—and where I might be headed in the coming years.”
Dave Martens (11) also thought the vocation focus of the trip was important. “Many of us have been somewhat going through motions in our collegiate careers. This provided us the opportunity to step back and examine what we’re doing.”
Taking It Back Home
Discussion didn’t end during the evening sessions, however. The long ride home provided ample time for continued conversation, mixing debate on vocation with the proper seeding of the Valpo basketball team that was to take place the evening of the return.
“I wasn’t sure exactly what I was going to get out of this trip,” commented Pat Byron (11), “but it gave me a lot to think about. It was a really rewarding experience and I hope we have the opportunity to allow others to do something similar in the future.”
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