It is important to be concerned for others, too. That s the service part. Some of us believe that each of us has a moral obligation to help one another. After all, we all need help at some time. And communities cannot survive if everyone exercises only self-interest.
American society is unique in the ways in which citizens work together to solve common problems.
In most ways we rely less on government than do other democracies in the world. So being an active member of a community means participating fully as a citizen. International students should become involved in service as a way to savor being in an American university and as a way to learn about this country. Community service is a URI value, one we want you to adopt if you have not done so already. Volunteerism reflects distinctly American values, values that are fundamental to the strength of our society, and those values must be fundamental in education.