VISTA program discontinued

Story by Stacey Gorton

Students involved in the volunteer opportunities offered on Baker’s campus may be upset with some of the changes being made after Baker decided not to renew its grant for the VISTA program.

“Why would you take away a program that has helped so many people?” sophomore LaTasha Green said. “It hasn’t even had a chance to really prove itself.”

VISTA is a program set up through the Kansas Campus Compact to help establish volunteer opportunities as well as a service and learning initiative program.

The grant introduced Kaitlin Emig to Baker last fall. Emig has been responsible for setting up volunteer programs for the campus.

In December, the compact was reevaluating positions because of its economic situation. Although Baker had the option to renew the grant through AmeriCorps, it was determined that the current budget would not be able to sustain the extra money it would require.

“We couldn’t pay the extra money,” Dean of Students Cassy Bailey said. “The amount we were paying would almost double.”

In order to keep the VISTA program on campus, the university would have to pay an extra $15,000 to $20,000.

“I was surprised they didn’t renew,” Emig said. “I thought everything was a go.”

Bailey said she hopes that although the official program is not on campus, organizations will maintain some of the community service projects they have established through VISTA.

Emig’s position at Baker has been under a one-year contract whether the program was renewed or not.

“We appreciate the great start with the program,” Bailey said. “We are hoping to renew the grant in 2011.”

Emig announced the discontinuation of the program at Wednesday’s recognition ceremony for students, faculty, staff and members of the community that have contributed to the program.

Volunteers for the 2008-09 school year.

Alternative Fall BreakAlternative Fall Break Alyse Cook, LaTasha GreenAlyse Cook, LaTasha Green National Hunger and Homelessness Week/ "Into the Streets" Week Justine Greve, Sharon Stauffer, Eli Jones, Sierra Ronhovde, Annie Parr, Jessica Lenhart, Barbara Stuart, Trevor Racine, Makenzie Gorman, Jared Weseloh, Taryn Britain, Representative Tony BrownJustine Greve, Sharon Stauffer, Eli Jones, Sierra Ronhovde, Annie Parr, Jessica Lenhart, Barbara Stuart, Trevor Racine, Makenzie Gorman, Jared Weseloh, Taryn Britain, Representative Tony Brown Alternative Fall BreakAlyse Cook, LaTasha GreenNational Hunger and Homelessness Week/ “Into the Streets” WeekJustine Greve, Sharon Stauffer, Eli Jones, Sierra Ronhovde, Annie Parr, Jessica Lenhart, Barbara Stuart, Trevor Racine, Makenzie Gorman, Jared Weseloh, Taryn Britain, Representative Tony Brown

Oxfam America® Hunger BanquetOxfam America&#174; Hunger Banquet Iliana Krehbiel, Lindsey Sanders, Katey Chandler, Katie Sellers, Kim Tate, Danielle Harris, Laura Snider, Chris O'Donnell, Mellissa Stice, Sarah Luecke, Taryn Britain, Rachel Noel, Alyssa Eck, Kristen Komm, Michael Turnbo, Erika Strong, Kyla Sheldon, Nikki Armbruster, Chad Griffin, Ranea Lindberg, Jessi Manthei, Lauren Hanson, Andy Clifford, Dan Clifford, Stephanie Brockmann, Shanlee Randel, Kylie Campbell, Tonia Karpowicz, Rachel Walkowiak, Darcey Nance, Ashley McEachern, Samantha Woodward, Layne Anderson, Brie LowreyIliana Krehbiel, Lindsey Sanders, Katey Chandler, Katie Sellers, Kim Tate, Danielle Harris, Laura Snider, Chris O'Donnell, Mellissa Stice, Sarah Luecke, Taryn Britain, Rachel Noel, Alyssa Eck, Kristen Komm, Michael Turnbo, Erika Strong, Kyla Sheldon, Nikki Armbruster, Chad Griffin, Ranea Lindberg, Jessi Manthei, Lauren Hanson, Andy Clifford, Dan Clifford, Stephanie Brockmann, Shanlee Randel, Kylie Campbell, Tonia Karpowicz, Rachel Walkowiak, Darcey Nance, Ashley McEachern, Samantha Woodward, Layne Anderson, Brie Lowrey MLK Day Challenge Apple McIntosh, Joylin Hall, Michael Turnbo, Eli Jones, Sierra Ronhovde, Trevor Racine, Taylor Freburg, Sarah Schmid, Ariel Penner, Rachel Kilian, Amanda Hershberger, Layne Anderson, Sarah Seekins, Danae Presler, Stan VickersApple McIntosh, Joylin Hall, Michael Turnbo, Eli Jones, Sierra Ronhovde, Trevor Racine, Taylor Freburg, Sarah Schmid, Ariel Penner, Rachel Kilian, Amanda Hershberger, Layne Anderson, Sarah Seekins, Danae Presler, Stan Vickers Oxfam America® Hunger BanquetIliana Krehbiel, Lindsey Sanders, Katey Chandler, Katie Sellers, Kim Tate, Danielle Harris, Laura Snider, Chris O’Donnell, Mellissa Stice, Sarah Luecke, Taryn Britain, Rachel Noel, Alyssa Eck, Kristen Komm, Michael Turnbo, Erika Strong, Kyla Sheldon, Nikki Armbruster, Chad Griffin, Ranea Lindberg, Jessi Manthei, Lauren Hanson, Andy Clifford, Dan Clifford, Stephanie Brockmann, Shanlee Randel, Kylie Campbell, Tonia Karpowicz, Rachel Walkowiak, Darcey Nance, Ashley McEachern, Samantha Woodward, Layne Anderson, Brie LowreyMLK Day ChallengeApple McIntosh, Joylin Hall, Michael Turnbo, Eli Jones, Sierra Ronhovde, Trevor Racine, Taylor Freburg, Sarah Schmid, Ariel Penner, Rachel Kilian, Amanda Hershberger, Layne Anderson, Sarah Seekins, Danae Presler, Stan Vickers

MLK Day of ServiceMLK Day of Service Jeff Skillman, Spencer Nash, Brad Oliva, Di-Tu Dissassa, Jessica Sutton, Jessica Beckem, Representative Tony Brown Jeff Skillman, Spencer Nash, Brad Oliva, Di-Tu Dissassa, Jessica Sutton, Jessica Beckem, Representative Tony Brown MLK Day of ServiceJeff Skillman, Spencer Nash, Brad Oliva, Di-Tu Dissassa, Jessica Sutton, Jessica Beckem, Representative Tony Brown

Jubilee CafeJubilee Cafe Leo Smith, Shavon Brown, Eli Jones, Sierra Ronhovde, Brianna Sage, Michael Angarita, Chad O'Bryhim, Iliana Krehbiel, Katelyn Brewer, Megan Renehan, Andrew Matz, Tiffany Bagsby, Logan GallardoLeo Smith, Shavon Brown, Eli Jones, Sierra Ronhovde, Brianna Sage, Michael Angarita, Chad O'Bryhim, Iliana Krehbiel, Katelyn Brewer, Megan Renehan, Andrew Matz, Tiffany Bagsby, Logan Gallardo Jubilee CafeLeo Smith, Shavon Brown, Eli Jones, Sierra Ronhovde, Brianna Sage, Michael Angarita, Chad O’Bryhim, Iliana Krehbiel, Katelyn Brewer, Megan Renehan, Andrew Matz, Tiffany Bagsby, Logan Gallardo

Bigs Brothers/ Big Sisters programsBigs Brothers/ Big Sisters programs Trevor Racine, Taylor Freburg, Jamie Ingram, Taylor Collier, Ashley Pike, Tyler Keal, Chris Sifuentes, Alex Coffey, Julie Hendrick, T.J. Harvey, Andrew Patch, Shawna Stokes, Kendra Schaefer, Nate Swihart, Jake Benjamin, Jordan Pratt, Megan Perry, Danielle Garcia, Will Duncan, Erin Riggs, Caitlin Murray, Lauren Miller, Carl Prieto, Di-Tu Dissassa, Robert Woodall, Shavon Brown, Jessica Sutton, John Babb, Kayla Anderson, Molly Schmeidler, Christine Janssens, Stephanie Brown, Sarah Schmid, Ariel PennerTrevor Racine, Taylor Freburg, Jamie Ingram, Taylor Collier, Ashley Pike, Tyler Keal, Chris Sifuentes, Alex Coffey, Julie Hendrick, T.J. Harvey, Andrew Patch, Shawna Stokes, Kendra Schaefer, Nate Swihart, Jake Benjamin, Jordan Pratt, Megan Perry, Danielle Garcia, Will Duncan, Erin Riggs, Caitlin Murray, Lauren Miller, Carl Prieto, Di-Tu Dissassa, Robert Woodall, Shavon Brown, Jessica Sutton, John Babb, Kayla Anderson, Molly Schmeidler, Christine Janssens, Stephanie Brown, Sarah Schmid, Ariel Penner Bigs Brothers/ Big Sisters programsTrevor Racine, Taylor Freburg, Jamie Ingram, Taylor Collier, Ashley Pike, Tyler Keal, Chris Sifuentes, Alex Coffey, Julie Hendrick, T.J. Harvey, Andrew Patch, Shawna Stokes, Kendra Schaefer, Nate Swihart, Jake Benjamin, Jordan Pratt, Megan Perry, Danielle Garcia, Will Duncan, Erin Riggs, Caitlin Murray, Lauren Miller, Carl Prieto, Di-Tu Dissassa, Robert Woodall, Shavon Brown, Jessica Sutton, John Babb, Kayla Anderson, Molly Schmeidler, Christine Janssens, Stephanie Brown, Sarah Schmid, Ariel Penner

Mungano Civil Rights TripMungano Civil Rights Trip Alyse Cook, Stephan Webb, Katie Mercer, Jessica Sutton, Di-Tu Dissassa, Nicole Baumgartner, Robert Woodall, Tyrone Brown, Ron Holden, Shavon BrownAlyse Cook, Stephan Webb, Katie Mercer, Jessica Sutton, Di-Tu Dissassa, Nicole Baumgartner, Robert Woodall, Tyrone Brown, Ron Holden, Shavon BrownMungano Civil Rights TripAlyse Cook, Stephan Webb, Katie Mercer, Jessica Sutton, Di-Tu Dissassa, Nicole Baumgartner, Robert Woodall, Tyrone Brown, Ron Holden, Shavon Brown