New Isenberg students gain sense of 'community'

by Sarah R. Buchholz, Chronicle staff

Joan Spaulding, director of Student Services at the Isenberg School, gives instructions to incoming students Chrystal Boyce and Alex Sabau. (Sarah Buchholz, photo)

ncoming Isenberg School of Management students lent a hand to two Springfield projects as part of an introduction to life at the school July 25-27. Nine incoming first-year students worked alongside faculty, staff and veteran SOM students at the Open Pantry downtown and a Habitat for Humanity house in the city's McKnight district.
"It's a wonderful opportunity to build teamwork," said Kim Jones, SOM's assistant director for field experience.

     "Incoming students get to meet upperclassmen, faculty and staff and to know that it's a community [at the school], that we are involved in our students lives and that we care about community service."

     The group convened in Springfield on a Thursday night to do team-building exercises led by associate professor of Management Robert Marx. They spent the night in Old First Church downtown before splitting into two work teams the following day. One went to assist with the Habitat for Humanity house; the other went to clean and collect donations for the Open Pantry, a free source of meals for members of the Springfield community.

     "They did all sorts of cleaning," said Joan Spalding, director of Student Services at the school, who went with the team to the Open Pantry. "They cleaned the refrigerator, the shelves, things the staff never gets the time to do. We broke down boxes and recycled."
Students also went to a Stop and Shop supermarket and collected donations.

     "We got 100 pounds of nonperishable food and $200 for the Emergency Food Bank in about four or five hours," said Kristen Corsaro, an incoming student from North Andover.
Across town, Alex Sabau of Haverill was hanging sheetrock and replacing doors at the Habitat for Humanity house.

     "There was evidence of neglect [on the property]," he said, "sumac all over the place, but it's going to be a nice house."

     In addition to Jones and Spalding, staff members Dennis Hanno, associate dean for Undergraduate Matters, and Melvin Rodriguez, director of Academic Services, were on hand to help.

     After their work Friday, students swam at the YMCA and slept in the church. Saturday morning, they talked with three sophomores who were participating in the weekend's activities about what to expect as UMass students in general and SOM students in particular.

     "I learned what to bring and not to wait to buy stuff," said Gill Benedek of Lexington. One of the biggest benefits of the weekend was getting to know people, he said. "It's a connection."

     Because the church donated lodging, the YMCA provided a place to shower and swim, and staff members used their own vehicles, the school was able to fund the weekend with $300-$400 without charging the students, according to Spalding.

     "The students who come to this are extraordinary because they're giving up a weekend to come here," Jones said. "This is the development of young leaders. It's such a joy to be part of their lives. It doesn't seem to matter what they did; they made the most of it."