University of Virginia Library

Big Brother, Sister

One will also find within the
Madison Hall conglomerate the
University chapter of the Big
Brother and Big Sister Programs.
While this program is affiliated with
a local Charlottesville chapter it has
been separately established. Primarily
work has been done with
children aged seven to seventeen
who were recommended by the
welfare department or school board
because they either have only one
parent or they possibly come from
too large a family. This year work
will also be done in coordination
with the local Trinity House program
and the parole office.

During the summer careful
studies were made of each of the
programs in order to assess their
value and effectiveness. The results
are being used to improve and
enlarge the service program generally.
One of the biggest problems
has been to match students with
some particular talent or interest
with a community need. This
problem should be alleviated, however,
as a result of the work done
this summer and the initiation of a
Supporting Congregations Program.

Along with the Office of
Volunteer Community Service,
Madison Hall also offers a Student
Legal Aid and Lawyer Referral Service.
Since this service is performed
by law students they can not
actually practice law but may assist
in such things as explaining leases
and traffic flotations and in referring
students to regular
attorneys. No fee is charged for
these services.

Also as a service for the students,
Madison Hall includes an Administrative
Assistance Program. This is
an outgrowth of the Legal Aid
Service, and its purpose is to offer
students advice and counselling in
matters involving administrative
and student groups within the University
such as the Honor
Committee, Dean of Student
Affairs, or Security.