University of Virginia Library

Professional Services To Provide
Community Directory Assistance

By CINDI STUART

A directory of all
University-based community
service projects is presently
being complied by the
Professional Services Center.
Under the direction of Madison
Hall and chaired by third-year
law student Jay Paradis.
Professional Services
incorporates students from all
ten schools of the University.

The need for the directory
developed from too much
"reinventing of the wheel
business," explained Mr.
Paradis. "Service groups would
discover only after the waste of
much time and money that a
similar service was in operation
in another school."

Futher problems
demanding an organized
reference of community
services developed from the
loss of resources and
experience from groups
providing the services.

Interest to Organizations

The directory is of primary
interest to members of
organizations wishing to learn
which   if any services could
be helpful to their particular
problems.

"It's not a book that just
anyone can pick up. It is
intended for someone who is
aware of community work."
added Mr Paradis.

Community services
provided by University
students include the taxpayer
assistance project, the drug
line, the free clinic, the
Juvenile court project and a
legal assistance program.

Professional Restrictions

The Professional Services
Project was formed in 1970
and originally attempted to
include all University volunteer
programs. But students
encountered professional
restrictions. Law and
architecture students in
particular found themselves
very limited in what they could
do without the authority to
practice.

Many of the community
services were associated with
specific schools. Their
volunteers were "jealous, and
rightfully so," of the programs,
said Mr. Paradis. Such students
knew their restrictions and
were not anxious to lose their
identity under the
all-encompassing title of
Professional Services.

The extreme alternative to
this proposal means that
various services would remain
scattered and that its members
would not be able to benefit
from the learning experiences
of others involved in similar
programs. "It's just inefficient
not to draw on others'
experience," said Mr. Paradis.

Benefits of Unification

Madison Hall's "attempt to
merge all of the services into
one entity was unrealistic."
asserts Mr. Paradis, "yet we
hope to provide the benefits of
a unified community service
center, so that the volunteers
will lose neither their
autonomy nor their identity
with a particular school."

The directory will hopefully
bridge these problems by
allowing for greater conformity
and, thus, efficiency, without
wounding the pride of the
volunteers. The book will
incorporate all Charlottesville
services in addition to those of
the University community.