During the four seasonal breaks each year, University students get a chance to extract themselves from their studies and enjoy much-needed quality time. However, during these breaks the non-profit Alternative Spring Break organization, run by the University YMCA, finds itself hard at work.

“We deal with a wide variety of social-justice issues,” said co-director and senior in LAS Janet Pavese. “Any University student, faculty or teacher can join, but we get the largest response from students. In our 18 years, we have exploded. Students have been coming back with great responses and word-of-mouth is really our best way of advertising.”

During fall break, the ASB has arranged three trips. The first is to Nashville, Tenn., where participants will work with United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee, building wheelchair ramps on the homes of the disabled.

The second trip is to Golden Pond, Ky. At this site, participants will be performing archeological surveys of homesteads and surrounding lands.

The third trip is to Willow River, Minn. At Camp Heartland, a camp specially designed to provide fun and exciting year-round camping experiences for children with HIV and AIDS, students will help clean, paint and refurbish the campgrounds.

“I’ve been on two trips,” said Megan Kittisopikul, site facilitator and senior in Business. “The two best things about these trips are getting to educate myself and learn about social issues, as well as meet students from the University and work towards one common goal.”

Applications are currently being accepted for the spring 2007 trips, and the deadline is Nov. 15. The application process includes writing two essays and the ranking of 17 different potential sites to determine which would be the best fit for the applicant.

“The participants will learn as much as possible from each site,” said Emily Fehrenbacher media chairman and senior in Communications, “and bring that knowledge back to Champaign-Urbana to help out and apply it here. We’re the largest Alternative Spring Break program in the country.”