SHOCK (Students Helping Others Choose Knowledgeably)

SHOCK is now online!
Click here to go to SHOCK's new awesome website!

What is SHOCK?
An entirely student-run program, SHOCK began under the name of the MCSP Drama Troupe during the 2001-2002 year as a way to get MCSP students involved in the greater Ann Arbor community. Using original skits focusing on substance abuse, SHOCK travels to Ann Arbor fifth grade classrooms encouraging students to remain drug free. The skits are both educational and entertaining, featuring Sponge Bob, Batman, and Shrek! In 2003, the University of Michigan presented SHOCK with the Ginsberg Award for Service and Social Action. Now in its fifth year, SHOCK looks forward to continued success.

Who is a part of SHOCK? SHOCK’s cast consists of twenty-one first- through fourth-year University of Michigan students whose majors range from psychology to pre-med, business, education, natural science, and everything in between! Approximately half of the cast has previous acting experience, and they all share a passion for helping others. What openings are available for MCSP members and other interested students? SHOCK needs energetic and dedicated students to act, direct, create new skits, and handle behind-the-scenes tasks! SHOCK provides opportunities for significant leadership responsibility to interested students. No acting experience is required! For more information, please contact Katie at kstanutz@umich.edu.

How is SHOCK funded?
SHOCK would like to thank the MCSP Programming Board, Couzens Hall Council, Arts at Michigan, Michigan Student Association, and the Ginsberg Center for their continued financial contributions to our program.

When are performances?
SHOCK performs at a different Ann Arbor elementary school each Friday. Performances typically start at 1:45 PM, and run for approximately one hour, including question-and-answer time.

How can teachers and community members schedule a performance?
For further information and/or to schedule a SHOCK performance at your school or community organization, please contact SHOCK’s producer, Katie Stanutz, at kstanutz@umich.edu.

30 Hour Famine

In March 2002, about 40 students with a core comprised of MCSP members began the 30 Hour Famine as student organization and yearly event here at UM. It involves fasting for 30 hours in recognition of the plight of world hunger, participating in many fun activities to pass the time and raising money in the process for impoverished communites around the world. In its first year and with 120 participants the group raised $6,192.67. What can that much money do? "A World of Change..." (Figures courtesy of the UM 30 Hour Famine Website)

Just how far does $6,192.67 go?...
Provides 68 children in Indonesia with 18 months of proper nutrition OR
Provides 309 children with immunistion to life threatening diseases OR
Can provide 247 families with a relief earthquake kit: Mens and womens clothing, blanket, kitchen utensils, lantern, Tarpaulin, dry food ration: 7 kg rice, 2 kg flour, 1 kg lentils, 1 liter edible oil, matches, and candles.

More info at www.umich.edu/~famine

LUCY: Lives of Urban Children and Youth

The LUCY Initiative, through the Michigan Community Scholars Program,
responds to the growing need to prepare undergraduate students to interact
effectively in a complex and diverse world. The study of the lives of
children in urban settings provides an excellent intellectual context for
this process. Students have the opportunity to equip themselves
intellectually and personally through their college experience to engage
actively in the intellectual, ethical, economic, scientific, and
justice-seeking challenges of contemporary society, and, in particular,
its urban centers. The LUCY Initiative provides courses and co-curricular
activities that permit students to make connections between their academic
inquiry and their civic engagement.

The LUCY Initiative is looking for students who are interested in the
issues facing today's urban youth. Participation requires a commitment to
weekly service in Detroit at one of our three community sites: CAMP
Detroit, Logan Elementary School, and University Preparatory Academy.
Training, transportation, reflection, and support are provided in every
course. We envision this program as a community where every voice and
opinion is heard and every effort made to support individual and community
goals.

Students are admitted to the program in the Fall and Winter terms.
Registration in UC151 section 009 will begin the application process.

Initiative Requirements:

UC102 (1 credit hour)
The Student in the University

UC151 section 004 (3 credit hours)
Lives of Urban Children and Youth: Schools, Community, and Power

Soc389 section 505 (3 credit hours)
MCSP: The LUCY Initiative

ED310 (1 credit each term)
Community Mentoring Partnerships (2 terms)

Elective (3-4 credit hours)
Chosen from a select list of courses

See the LUCY Website: www.umich.edu/~lucyweb

AmeriCorps Summer Internship

This Spring/Summer (approximately May 1- July 31), MCSP and the Michigan Neighborhood AmeriCorps Program (MNAP) are partnering to offer students service-learning opportunities as interns at Focus: HOPE in Detroit. At Focus: HOPE, students will work 450 hours on projects related to volunteer recruitment, organizing special events, helping to build community relationships, assisting with physical development projects and other community issues. The internship comes through MNAP and one - four students will receive a $2500 stipend, plus an education award to be used for tuition assistance or paying student loans, training in being an effective community practitioner, and access to numerous other resources. Students should not plan to take courses during their AmeriCorps Internship.

More, detailed, information will be available in January. Contact Kisha Lashore, the MCSP Community Coordinator, at tlashore@umich.edu for more details.