During Cornell University's spring break, while some students make their way to exotic vacations, a group of students will move in a different direction as part of a project called Alternative Spring Break, sponsored by the Cornell Public Service Center.

A group of 13 participating Cornell students will travel to the small mining town of Welch, W.Va., during the break, leaving Saturday, March 20, and returning Sunday, March 28. The students will spend their visit working at the domestic abuse shelter Stop Abusive Family Environments (SAFE).

The SAFE shelter works hard to combat the cycle of poverty and domestic violence. At the shelter, the students' work will include manual labor projects and providing child-care and career-related workshops for residents. At the end of their trip, the students will have provided more than 50 hours of service to a community much in need.

Coordinated by Cornell senior Paul Hurh, the Alternative Spring Break project, in its first year as a pilot project, is modeled after programs established at other colleges and universities.

The Alternative Spring Break team has worked diligently to ensure the development and implementation of the project. Members established a relationship with SAFE, applied for grants and held fund-raisers, including a "build-a-thon" at Cayuga Nature Center. The group also has participated in workshops dealing with domestic violence, in preparation for some of the challenges they may face during the project.

Organizers say they hope that, under the sponsorship and guidance of the Public Service Center, the program will expand into a yearly activity, perhaps offering more than one alternative break excursion in future academic years.