Excerpts from the VPUL's recommendation to Hackney

Through its discussion and considera - tion, the committee has offered useful & guidelines for the Castle: that its residents should be both heterogeneous and plura - listic; that it should offer activities through its programs and public space that are beneficial to a wide segment of the Uni - versity community; that it should incorpo - rate both the intellectual and social spirit of a living-learning community; and that it should embody the idea of welcoming presence that we as a committee seek for the whole of Locust Walk. The committee has also suggested that we treat this new project as experimental and subject to review to assure that it continues to meet successfully the goals established. Both I and the committee have also benefitted from a number of interesting proposals and suggestions from indivi - dual students and from groups throughout campus for the use of the Castle . . . My recommendation for the Castle is to create within it a pluralistic living-learning residence dedicated to service to the & wider community, a place in the heart of our campus where undergraduate and & graduate students, supported by faculty and staff members, can explore the key issues of service and community involve - ment in answer to the question, "What good may I do?" This is not a new idea; a programmatic requirement of community service was indeed part of many of the proposals we received. There are also many faculty, staff and students on our campus involved in programs dedicated to the exploration of community service ideas and practice upon whom we should call in the initiation of this endeavor. From these individuals we will form an advisory board to draw up guidelines for this residential community, to aid in the identification of a diverse group of undergraduate and graduate stu - dent residents and graduate fellows dedi - cated to exploring service issues, to offer programmatic support to this house as it begins to function next year, and to aid in the process of evaluating the success of this enterprise. Its goal should be to en - sure that in this house, learning and ser - vice are joined in constructive common good. The presence of a Community Service House in the heart of campus makes a powerful statement about the central & place of service in our overall University program. It is a statement that many of our students have already made individually, and it seems appropriate to acknowledge this with a corresponding physical and programmatic commitment. Kim M. Morrisson February 22, 1991

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