Spring Break
Students Team Up To Make A Difference
Mariana Souza-Stebbins
Issue date: 3/25/08 Section: News
"This is the spoon we use at the Student Union," said Craig Kell, holding a black plastic spoon. "And this is the one we used at the conference," he said, this time showing a yellowish spoon which - on first impression - felt and looked like plastic. There is one major difference though: this spoon is made out of potatoes and decomposes in 100 days. "Imagine what difference we could make just by replacing the silverware!" Kell said.
"We are not curing AIDS, we are not stopping global warming," said Curran Kennedy. "But we are all doing small practical things that make a difference."
Kell, 22, a political science major and Kennedy, 21, who is double majoring in sociology and global health and poverty, spent their spring break in New Orleans, attending the first annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative University at Tulane University.
A branch of the Clinton Global Initiative - which Bill Clinton founded in 2005 to work with government and business leaders to turn good intentions into action - the CGI U intends to do the same by bringing together college students, university officials and global leaders in one network.
"It is a great opportunity for college students to take action. They are looking to the youth to affect change," said Kell. "As Clinton said, 'those of us who have more tomorrows,' who have more time ahead to act," Kennedy said. The two were among 700 students accepted to the conference. They were the only representatives of UConn present.
CGI U focused on four areas: energy and climate change, global health, human rights and peace and poverty alleviation. From Friday to Sunday, students attended discussions and working sessions where they brainstormed with other students, shot questions to panel members and planned ways to affect change back at their home campuses.
To be part of CGI U, every member - student or not - had to make a commitment, no matter how small or big, to take some practical action to bring about change. "It was all about the commitment, that was the whole point of CGI U," said Kennedy.
"We are not curing AIDS, we are not stopping global warming," said Curran Kennedy. "But we are all doing small practical things that make a difference."
Kell, 22, a political science major and Kennedy, 21, who is double majoring in sociology and global health and poverty, spent their spring break in New Orleans, attending the first annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative University at Tulane University.
A branch of the Clinton Global Initiative - which Bill Clinton founded in 2005 to work with government and business leaders to turn good intentions into action - the CGI U intends to do the same by bringing together college students, university officials and global leaders in one network.
"It is a great opportunity for college students to take action. They are looking to the youth to affect change," said Kell. "As Clinton said, 'those of us who have more tomorrows,' who have more time ahead to act," Kennedy said. The two were among 700 students accepted to the conference. They were the only representatives of UConn present.
CGI U focused on four areas: energy and climate change, global health, human rights and peace and poverty alleviation. From Friday to Sunday, students attended discussions and working sessions where they brainstormed with other students, shot questions to panel members and planned ways to affect change back at their home campuses.
To be part of CGI U, every member - student or not - had to make a commitment, no matter how small or big, to take some practical action to bring about change. "It was all about the commitment, that was the whole point of CGI U," said Kennedy.
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Give me a break
posted 3/25/08 @ 12:18 PM EST
I am going to use mutiple spoons and forks for each meal after reading this silly article.
I have an idea..lets get rid of trays, cups, plates, forks, everything. (Continued…)
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