Big Buddy program brings Medford Kids, Tufts students together

A trip back to junior high school is not something every Tufts student wants to experience. The nightmares of cliques, and name calling, however means nothing to a group 20 or so Tufts students in the Big Buddy program.

As members of the Big Buddy program Tufts students from Sigma Nu and Chi Omega volunteer every week to spend time with local preteens at the McGlynn School in Medford.

The Sigma Nu fraternity started the program last year and expanded it this year to include Chi Omega sisters. Students from both Greek organizations meet on Friday afternoons and spend about an hour and a half with students at McGlynn after school.

Senior Jordan Klein, Sigma Nu philanthropy chair, heads the Big Buddy program. "We work with a diverse group of kids, socializing and doing team building games," he said. "About 20 students and around 25 kids participate, though the numbers fluctuate from week to week."

Chloe Kaplan, a junior, introduced the program into Chi Omega after hearing about the program at an Inter-Greek Council (IGC) meeting. Kaplan, also a Citizenship and Public Service Scholar with the University College of Citizenship and Public Service

Decided to make the Big Buddy program her community project for this semester.

With the addition of UCCPS funding, Kaplan has been able to provide McGlynn students and volunteers with t-shirts, snacks and money for materials. She is pleased with the progress of the program. "It's much more structured and solid," she said. "I think this program has so much potential. People have really embraced it and they are doing a phenomenal job."

Kaplan felt that both the Somerville/Medford area and the Tufts Community would benefit from volunteer work with neighborhood children. "I realized this had the potential to be a solid program," she said.

In recent weeks, however, a problem has plagued the program. Due to budget cuts in the local school district, the McGlynn school no longer provides after-school bus transportation on Mondays and Fridays. A significant number of students were unable to stay after school for the program because of the lack of busses.

"Their parents can't come pick them up because they are working," sophomore Jill Hochstrasser said."

However, this situation causes more problems because Friday is the best day logistically for Tufts students to participate in the program "Friday is the only day a big group of Tufts students don't have classes and are available to go," Hochstrasser said. Volunteers are not allowed to provide rides to the students because of liability issues. Other than this logistical problem, the program is thriving. Kaplan stressed the bond the volunteers have already formed with the kids and with each other. "After two weeks we were already talking about what we are going to do when we leave at the end of the semester."

The goal of the program is to provide much more than snacks or t-shirts. "The goal is to build self-esteem," said Hochstrasser, who will take over for Kaplan when she goes abroad next semester, said. "This can be an awkward and uncomfortable time. We want to show the kids that people want to spend time with them, that people can have fun with them."

Kaplan agreed that discussion with college students can be helpful to junior high students. "Kids of any age, particularly junior high, are struggling with so many issues that just seeing college students, especially from Tufts, can be helpful," she said. "It's important for them to see people that make them want to grow up and do well in school; to see that there is more out there."

Klein and Kaplan both stress the importance of community service in the Greek system. Klein explained, "For us, it's a good way to blow off steam from a long week of classes and to show that the Greeks do far more than party."

Kaplan echoed the same sentiment. "This program proves a lot to the administration at a time when the Greek system is not in the best condition."