Editor:

In response to Tina Parsons’ recent column (“Service learning would shape students’ perspectives,” Nov. 24), I partly agree8212;service is a vital part of responsible civic lives.

But requiring students to do something that should come from their innate desire to help out sounds a little oxymoronic. And why even “service learning”? I mean, what if other clubs and organizations on campus are already engaging in (somewhat unaccounted for, yet numerous) service opportunities? Will we then be required to log our hours and write a few papers about them, thereby turning what we beyond love to do into a mere obligation to get some distinction?

The U’s already doing an excellent job with raising awareness about the many opportunities available. So to make engaging in them a requirement would be an unnecessary mistake.

Annie Paul,

Junior, Business Administration