The GOAL Program, Hillsdale’s student-run volunteer organization, is planning changes for next year, hoping to revitalize the program and encourage more students to volunteer.
“Getting a campus interested in volunteerism is something we can push for. There is already a huge presence, but we can always do better,” said junior Wesley Steeb, the GOAL Director.
GOAL, originally standing for a “Great Opportunity in Assistance and Leadership,” will no longer be an acronym. Steeb said that the title, given in 1988, no longer fits the program.
“No one knew what it stood for,” Steeb said. “Admittedly, I sometimes forgot.”
The substitution for the outdated motto will be “Campus driven. Community Focused.”
Steeb also intends to create a new logo for GOAL. Bryan Springer, instructor in art, approached Steeb with the idea of making a new GOAL logo as a senior graphic design project. Steeb agreed and is now reviewing submissions.
The GOAL administration, consisting of Steeb and GOAL Coordinator sophomore Travis Cook, also intends to streamline procedures, including hour reporting and the hiring process.
Steeb is currently writing a manual of her duties that will be passed down to the next director. She is also encouraging each GOAL leader to write a manual for his or her program.
“We are hoping to have more of a paper trail to increase continuity so that the overarching view of the program will get passed from year to year,” she said.
Steeb is the first student director to act as the GOAL administrator for three consecutive years. Cook will follow Steeb in GOAL administration for three years.
“The continuity of us being involved for three years is great and efficient,” Steeb said. “What I haven’t finished this year, I know I can do next year.”
In addition to the changes to administrative procedures, two new programs will be added to GOAL’s 20 current programs: A Few Good Men, led by Ben Holscher, and King’s Kupboard, led by Martha Ekdahl.
“Both Martha and Ben created them from the bottom up,” Steeb said.
Holscher’s program coordinates students to help members of the community do yard work, move heavy furniture, paint, and anything else people need help with. The program aims to help the elderly, the disabled, widows, and those who do not have enough money to adequately care for their own property.
Holscher said the name of the program comes from an Edmund Burke quote: “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”
Holscher hopes that A Few Good Men will act as a bridge between the college and the community.
“I’ve gathered from conversations I’ve had while working in the community that people in Hillsdale County believe that Hillsdale College students are primarily elitist, privileged, and uncaring students,” Holscher said. “By demonstrating that the majority of students are caring, hardworking, gracious people, we will break down this false stereotype. As a group, we will strive to give this country another reason to be proud of being home to Hillsdale College.”
Although the program is open to all, Holscher hopes to attract more men to volunteering, as he believes there are currently more women at the college volunteering in some capacity.
“My challenge to men is to stand up and take action,” he said. “You can get your hands dirty. You can sweat. You can work together on a project where you can see the results. It is a very tangible improvement.”
Ekdahl’s program, King’s Kupboard, grew from her work at Trinity Lutheran Church’s food bank, with the same name. Eight students currently work there, but Ekdahl plans to expand the program next year.
“I want more people to be connected to the Hillsdale community,” she said. “I want them to get off the hill and see what people in our community struggle with, to have the fulfillment of volunteering and working with others.”
Holscher and Ekdahl approached Steeb after seeing unmet community needs. They then brainstormed and created a proposal. The GOAL committee, consisting of Steeb, Associate Dean of Women Rebekah Dell, Dean of Women Diane Philipp, and Director of Financial Aid Richard Moeggenberg approved their proposals.
With the creation of new programs, Steeb wants GOAL to continue to be unified in encouraging volunteerism on campus.
“I want to ensure that when I leave GOAL it has a unified vision,” she said. “It is not just 22 different programs. We want there to be a cohesive vision.”
