COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH ALCOHOL OFFENSES GIVE BACK THROUGH COMMUNITY SERVICE EFFORTS
IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS

More than 30 college students, charged with alcohol-related offenses, gave back to the communities they temporarily call home as part of a Trial Court Community Service project which enabled the young people to avoid court costs in exchange for a little sweat equity.

The young men and women donned the reflective vests, worn by offenders, and raked the lawns of a town government building in the center of Northampton, the Hadley Town Commons, and picked up trash along Route 9 in South Amherst last week. The students were making amends for charges that ranged from being a minor in possession of alcohol to disorderly conduct. Most of the students were enrolled at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. One student was from Hampshire College and another was from the University of Connecticut.

"Instead of having a record and ruining their chances for a future, this project gives the students an opportunity to give back to the community," said Eastern Hampshire District Court Chief Probation Officer Robert Ryan. "This is a benefit to Amherst, the town of Hadley, and the whole university community."

Eastern Hampshire District Court First Justice Nancy Dusek-Gomez is the brainchild of this community service project.

"My thought is if the students take away from the community in a thoughtless act, they should give back," said Judge Dusek-Gomez who also noted that the program was "such a success, it will be repeated in the spring."

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Campus Life Michael Gargano, Ph.D, said he is in favor of the community service initiative for UMASS students.

"I support the program 100 percent. I think it is a very important initiative. Students do not understand the true meaning of their actions through the sanction of court costs or fees. Hard labor leaves a lasting impression on the students and discourages this type of behavior," said Dr. Gargano.

James, a 21-year-old UMASS-Amherst senior, said he appreciated the chance to clear his record. James, who did not want to embarrass his parents by using his last name, was ordered to do 40 hours of community service for buying alcohol for his underage roommate.

"It's a great alternative. I'm happy to do community service. Something good came out of this," he said.

Jill, a 19-year-old freshman from Hudson, described the community service as an "easy way out." She was ordered to do community service for being a minor in possession of alcohol.

Virginia, a 19-year-old Amherst College student from Seattle, violated the open container law. Raking leaves in Northampton Center, Virginia wore a scowl on her face.

"I don't really like this. I definitely won't get in trouble again," she said. "And no, I didn't tell my parents."

James, Jill, and Virginia all asked that their last names be omitted to avoid embarrassing their parents.

First semester freshman Kyle Pauley, a 19-year old student at UMASS-Amherst, was ordered to do community service for being a minor in possession of alcohol. When asked how he felt about raking leaves on the Hadley Town Commons, he flashed a thumbs up.

Hadley Water and Sewer Superintendent Mike Klimoski said the community service work performed by the students saved his town thousands of dollars and the two full days of work it would take for his staff to clean the common.

"This is a great thing. Having these students here frees up my other employees to focus on more serious work," said Klimoski as he made plans with Michael LeCours, Assistant Statewide Supervisor for the Hampshire County division of the Trial Court Community Service Program, to have more work done by community service crews.