Issue date: 9/22/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Rick Balutewicz Amy Farris empties water from a basement at a Munster home.

For some time now, PUC has been attempting to incorporate experiential learning into its curriculum in order to give students more valuable experience in their fields before entering the workforce.

Last week's flooding, which left much of the region at a standstill for days, provided students, along with faculty and staff, an opportunity to go out into the community and do just that.

In an effort coordinated in part by Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Melinda Dalgarn, volunteers from PUC dispersed into the Town of Munster to assist with clean-up projects at various households. Local business including Home Depot, Jewel Osco of Munster and Gus Bock's Ace Hardware contributed cleaning supplies such as buckets, bleach, mops and rubber gloves.

A group of 11 students volunteered and faculty assisted on Friday in coordination with the office of North Township Trustee Frank Mrvan Jr. On Saturday groups went out in two four-hour phases: one in the morning and another in the afternoon. Paige's Business Ventures of Illinois donated a driver and a vehicle to transport volunteers from the campus to Munster.

One of the homes cleaned by students was that of Bob and Judy Paulson who live on Northcote Street near Wicker Park Munster. The Paulson's basement had been flooded to the ceiling and suffered considerable damage. The majority of their furniture and belongings suffered water damage, requiring them to be scrapped.

Despite their misfortune, the Paulson's were very appreciative of the student's help.

"We definitely could not have done it without them," Judy Paulson said. "I mean I had no idea it would be this much work. It's incredible what they have done."

Her husband Bob also commended the students' work.

"It would have cost us thousands of dollars to get this taken care of without their help," Paulson said.

Amy Farris, a biology major, spent her time at the Paulson home where she cleaned, removed water damaged items and even provided assistance to a fellow worker who had stepped on a nail.

"I think the hardest thing…is that this was all somebody's life," she said. "We tried to come down here and bag this stuff up because if they come down here and they're looking at toys, photographs and memories that makes it tough. When we came in, the water had floated everything. So there were dressers and furniture and it was tough getting everything out of the way. Cleaning and mopping has been the easiest part."

Abbas Hill, assistant director of housing, played his part by helping sign up volunteers at the south entrance of the SUL Building and also brought pizza to the work site.

PUC's involvement in the clean-up was sponsored by Student Activities. Monetary donations are still being accepted at the office of the vice chancellor of Student Affairs, located in Lawshe Hall room 352 and can be contacted at (219) 989-2367.

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