In Alabama, they would say “Git’ er-dun,” and that is just what a group of students from DeKalb did two weeks ago.

When they came back to Illinois, this simple phrase from comedian Larry the Cable Guy, caused a few to smile, but for many it was the theme for their alternative Spring Break.

Spending a week away from relaxing and partying, nine NIU students and two alumni spent Spring Break working for a good cause – participating in the building of a Habitat for Humanity house.

The ninth annual “alternative Spring Break” trip to Alabama was organized by the Newman Catholic Student Center as part of the Habitat for Humanity program. The trip consisted of a 660-mile drive south from DeKalb to Florence, Ala., a city located in the northwest corner of the state and home to Northern Alabama University.

The group took two cars and one rental van for the 12-hour drive to Florence. Although each made the journey for their own reasons, all shared one common goal: Build a house in four days for a family that is less fortunate than they are.

Not having any Spring Break plans and the need to do some kind of activity with the Newman Center was what brought Joe Benoit, a junior physical education major, on the trip.

Participants in the trip stayed in the gymnasium at the St. Joseph Catholic Church and Elementary School in Florence, sleeping on cots in the gym. They used the adjacent kitchen and bathrooms for their basic needs. Although they prepared some of their own meals, members of the Florence Community helped prepare some meals for the group.

The house was built for Benita Williams, an instructional assistant for the Florence school system, and her two-year-old daughter, Endia.

The design was simple – three bedrooms, one full bath, kitchen, living room and a porch.

“The fuse box won’t flood when it rains,” said Williams, when she saw her new house would have a fuse box up high in her new kitchen.

Fourteen retirees from Florence and surrounding areas volunteered their time to help guide the NIU group in building the house.

Bridget Brennan, a senior anthropology major on her second Habitat for Humanity trip, said the volunteer guides love them coming to work on the project.

“The guys are in charge here,” said Mary Tipperreiter, an NIU alumna and former Northern Star employee. The guys Tipperreiter refer to are retired engineers, steamfitters, electricians, plumbers, economists and armed forces officers.

“They asked for volunteers at church and I just did it,” said Duncan Powers, a retired pilot for Delta airlines and resident of Tuscumbia, Ala.

That was two years and five houses ago. After a recent knee surgery, Powers helps as much as he can with his saw, but spends his down time on a lawn chair directing the work.

A few bent nails and missed studs were not the only irritations for the participants.

A.J. Stabe, a senior visual communications major, said the difference in accents between the southerners and Illinois folks caused a lot of miscommunication. But, he said, all of them have been surprised with the amount of work that was done in four days. When the NIU participants left for DeKalb at the end of the week, the house stood with a roof, windows and doors, partial plumbing and electricity. They started with just the foundation.

Participants from NIU made the most of their free time by enjoying the gym, which was open for them to use for games of badminton, basketball and dodgeball. They devoted a part of their evening to community time, beginning with a short prayer, then reading from the Bible.

For more information about Habitat for Humanity through the Newman Catholic Center, contact Pat Mulheran, director of Youth Ministry, Justice & Social Action at 787-7770. The DeKalb chapter for Habitat for Humanity can be contacted 758-5055.