By Rory McNelley, Newswire Intern
Last Sunday, X-Change kicked off their semester of service.
X-Change, a club within the Center for Faith and Justice, is in its 22nd year at Xavier with about 100 participants this semester volunteering at seven different sites.
X-Change participants dedicate around two hours of their time each week at a service site with their small group, consisting of one site leader and six to seven participants. This year, there are 14 different student-led groups, which go to their respective sites every week in an effort to make lasting relationships with the people they serve.
Students check in with an X-Change board member to find their group for the semester.
The kickoff took place from 1 to 2 p.m. last Sunday in Alter Hall. Students met their groups, did their Xavier introductions, played games and familiarized themselves with the logistics of the program.
Students viewed a video from Xavier theology professor Marcus Mescher discussing his thoughts on service. The video emphasizes being present for other people and sharing your life with them. Groups discussed how to look at service through the lens of “being with” people instead of “doing for” people.
Senior education and history double major Jack McGowan has done service in the past and has been a member of X-Change for five semesters now. Reflecting upon his experience with X-Change, McGowan’s favorite part of the program is meeting new people and making connections on and off campus.
“Service has always been important to me, and X-Change is a way to do service through Xavier,” McGowan said.
Incorporating Ignatian practices students reflect with their group on how service of others can have an impact personally, spiritually and as a community. They also reflect on how learning about others’ experiences can provide insight into one’s own experience.
At the kick off event, students got together with the groups they will serve with for the rest of the semester.
X-Change’s mission is to build community between Xavier and the surrounding area and to give students an opportunity to engage in service with members of the Xavier community and beyond. Program Advisor for the Center of Faith and Justice Tala Ali uses the word solidarity to describe the aim of the program.
“While serving as a site leader at Westley Chapel Mission Center, I hope to gain a better understanding of my peers around me, but also understand our community that Xavier resides in,” first-year exercise science major Sal Morales said on his experience with X-Change.