ASUA Big Event returns to UA-area communities

Jeffrey Williams Arizona Daily Wildcat Chemistry sophomore Sara Halper, from Gamma Beta Phi Society, and fine arts studies sophomore Ryan Burton-Romero, an Arizona Ambassador (background) help clear a front yard of weeds and trash yesterday as part of the Big Event. The annual community service project is sponsored by ASUA to clean neighborhoods near UA campus.

But yesterday, University of Arizona volunteers cleaned outside Welsh's Jefferson Park home as they participated in the Associated Students' annual Big Event community service project.

About 390 UA students arrived at 9 a.m. and donated their time to rake leaves, sweep porches, pull weeds and wash windows at houses of the Jefferson Park and West University neighborhood associations.

The four-hour affair, organized by ASUA officials, is designed to appease residents before the noisy Spring Fling carnival event arrives next month. Area-homeowners have complained in the past that the mini-amusement park, held on the UA Mall, creates unnecessary hassles and traffic congestion.

Aside from the headaches resulting from Spring Fling, Welsh said he appreciates the help because students hold parties in his neighborhood and occasionally use his yard as a trash heap.

"It's a good change of pace," said Welsh, a 1998 UA graduate. "It think it is good to give back to the community."

Welsh said the community service event is enough to make up for the students' damage.

"I understand students are really busy," Welsh said, of the 1700 block of East Waverly Street. "I think once a year is nice."

Welsh added he never heard about or participated in the Big Event while he was an undergraduate student.

ASUA Community Development Director Viviane Safrin, who organized the affair, spent about $1,000 of the organization's funds toward advertising, buying tools and T-shirts and renting vehicles from the UA motor pool.

Safrin said the residents were grateful for the students' work.

"They were extremely enthusiastic and appreciated that we were making an effort to help the community," said Safrin, ASUA's administrative vice president-elect.

Safrin said the Big Event also helps make up for some problems that students inflict on local residents.

"It allows for better communication and better communication leads to better feelings overall between students and local residents," she said.

West-university resident Barbra Quade said she and her husband value the student contributions.

"I really appreciate the university for giving back to the community," said Quade, of the 600 block East First Street. "We all work together because we co-exist and we're in the same neighborhood."

Quade's husband, Jay, a UA geosciences professor, is doing research in Ethiopia. He will return to Tucson in a few weeks.

"He'll be happy," Quade said. "It'll be less work for he and I, too."

Marketing senior Stacey Cohen, who did yardwork during the Big Event, said area residents who don't attend the UA must become frustrated with the frequent, loud parties.

"It must be really hard to live around here if you don't go to college," said Cohen, a member of the Arizona Ambassadors. "I think it is hard to get up this early but in the end it will be worthwhile."

ASUA president-elect Cisco Aguilar, who last year frightened his fellow workers by swinging a large shovel over his head, said he was happy to watch his constituents help Tucsonans.

"It's neat to see students who care about the neighborhood and the community in which they live in and go to school," Aguilar said.

Fine arts sophomore Ryan Burton-Romero called on ASUA officials to organize community service projects on a more regular basis.

"I think we could do it once a month and tackle more of Tucson," said Burton-Romero, also an Arizona Ambassadors member.

Engineering freshman Peter Fosnight said participating in the Big Event made him feel useful.

"It makes you feel good you're not just doing stuff for yourself all the time," said Fosnight, a member of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship.

Media arts and communication sophomore Richie Tang said he had to wake up earlier than normal to chop weeds, but the occasion was worthy.

"It lets other people know that even though we're students, we get involved with the community and care," said Tang, an Intervarsity Christian Fellowship member. "It is a little earlier than I would usually get up but its for a good cause."