CU-Boulder becomes Campus of ONE

Last night the University of Colorado Student Union passed a proclamation declaring the campus to be a Campus of ONE. The unanimous decision reflects the University’s commitment to being a leader on social justice issues and standing up against extreme poverty and preventable diseases. What’s even more significant is that the committee is determined to be more than a quiet statement of faith, but to make it public with a signing event and active promotion of ONE on campus throughout the next school year.

The sponsor of the bill, Dan Omasta, described the bill as unique because in this election cycle we are constantly hearing about all the things we can’t agree on, it’s nice to talk about what we do share as common values. The passage of this proclamation makes the University of Colorado one of the largest school to become a Campus of ONE.

I’m very proud of my University and look forward to the work we have to do over the summer and next year.

-Matthew McAllister, Colorado ONE member and CU Sophomore

Vote for the ONE Campus Challenge Winner

Since October, colleges and universities around the U.S. have been competing in the ONE Campus Challenge – a friendly competition to see which campus has the best poverty advocates around.

After months of open competition, an amazing summit in Washington, DC, and some adorable pets put into ONE gear, the Top 10 schools received stipends to create their own poverty advocacy projects.

The projects are all done, and I’m proud to show you the results and ask for your input on pick in the winner.

Voting runs until midnight Pacific Time Friday!

We’ll let you know who won next week.

Libertyville becomes 1st ONE High School Today

Compassion has flooded the hallways of Libertyville High School in Illinois. I and my fellow students are taking action for the fight against disease and poverty and today, on March 19, our school will become the first official “ONE High School” at the same time Libertyville becomes an official “ONE City.”

Next month, we’re organizing a massive community benefit concert that will take place on April 18, 2008 at the high school’s field house. Just like the roots of the ONE Campaign, this started as just a few students’ idea and has grown into a movement.

What inspires me the most is how quick more students are to join. Our group continues to grow and we’ve already signed up more than 580 new members in just two days of tabling. Between our school and town, the Libertyville community is truly taking on to the idea that we all can come together as ONE community to change the world.

-Ryan Steel, ONE member and LHS senior, Libertyville, IL

Summ(it)ing it up

Seven days ago, a group of 100 student activists and I met in our nation’s capital for the ONE Campus Challenge Power 100 Summit to focus on the challenge of eliminating extreme poverty within their generation’s time. In attendance were some highly influential and key Washington figures that delivered some motivational speeches that gave the student activists some incite on how truly influential the student movement is.

The group met in Washington DC on January 2nd and enjoyed an array of speakers which included public health specialists, senior fellows, CEO’s, government officials and White House aids. The list of speakers in attendance is much too long to share in its entirety but some in attendance included; former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich; former Senate Majority Leader, William Frist M.D.; Author and First Daughter, Jenna Bush.

The summit built enthusiasm for many. The purpose of ONE is not to raise money to feed poor people but to change the way the US and others do business and set policies in the world. ONE is a movement to build awareness of what it means to exist in extreme poverty and what it takes to break out of the cycle. It became clear that ONE is an advocacy not a charity. Many of the speakers made mention that the honor was more theirs not ours to attend. As many historical events have shown in the past – what government will not do – college student will take upon themselves to do.

The summit attendees took pride in sharing efforts which have already been achieved in the recent past, for example, the successful debt relief effort in Liberia. In addition, attendees look forward to upcoming efforts to push for legislative action of the Jubilee Bill and further work toward the Millennium Development Goals.

The attendees of the Power 100 Summit are participants in the ONE Campus Challenge - a student movement to eradicate extreme poverty and address global health issues.

-Rebecca Hoffer - UNLV student rep.

UNLV - Rebels with a Cause

Monday, November 5th, marked a great historical moment for the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV). At a press conference held by the ONE Club at UNLV, Provost Neil Smatresk represented our University President David Ashley, and read a proclamation declaring UNLV a “ONE Campus!” This proclamation comes at a very unique time as UNLV gets ready to host the CNN Democratic Presidential Candidate debate on November 15th.

Chancellor Jim Rogers was also in attendance as a ONE Vote ‘08 Ambassador to announce a very unique scholarship opportunity for ONE UNLV Club members. UNLV students gathered together and in full force have jumped on the ONE Campus Challenge this week. The press conference was covered by 3 local TV stations and our student paper, The Rebel Yell.

We are excited by all the ways we can earn points for our university. As our basketball team gets ready to begin the new season Rebel fans are anxious to get them in ONE gear at a game. Other future events will include hosting a ONE ROCKS! Concert November 14th to raise awareness of the ONE Campaign and recruit new members.

UNLV is off to a great start and excited about the ONE Campus Challenge. Keep watch while these Rebels with a Cause work their way up in the standings to raise awareness about ONE.

-Rebecca Hoffer, President of ONE UNLV

ONE Trails Obama to MO!

The Obama rally at Union Station in St. Louis, MO, went great on Saturday! 7 ONE Webster students went in ONE shirts and ONE Webster students Alex Cruz and Ellie Curran were interviewed by Fox Channel 2. I managed to work my way to the barrier by the side stage to band Representative Clay and Representative Carnahan. After the rally we caught up with Obama, but he said he already had a ONE band, so ONE Webster member Mark Albrecht gave him his T-shirt.

Two of our members, Sandra Lemenaite and her friend, arrived early and were packed into the very front of the crowd behind the barrier directly in front of the stage. I passed their T-shirts through the crowd to them. Afterwards, Sandra told me that they were packed in so tight that they had to get help from the people around them to slip the shirts over their jackets. One lady who helped them happened to be a ONE member and showed Sandra her ONE band.

The atmosphere there was charged with enthusiasm for the next election. We can’t wait for the next presidential candidate to come to town. Extreme poverty must be an issue in the 2008 election!

-Nick Stevens, OCC Regional Outreach Ambassador, co-chairman of ONE Saint Louis, and President of ONE Webster

ONE Student ONE Vote Series Launches in Arkansas Today

ONE, the newspaper the Politico, the University of Central Arkansas, the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Washing are teaming up to launch the national “ONE Student | ONE Vote” today, an unprecedented initiative to motivate students to become politically active global citizens. Right now, ONE’s Kimberly Cadena, Chandler Smith, Sheena Arora and Erin Eagan are on the ground in Arkansas to help the already strong crew down there pull off the first ONE Student | ONE Vote event.

Jim VandeHei, executive editor and co-founder of the Politico, will moderate the conversation at the 1:30 p.m. ONE Student ONE Vote forum. Panel members include UCA President Lu Hardin; author and national security expert Jeffrey Laurenti with the Century Foundation; Dr. Elaine Fox, a professor with great knowledge of Central America and the needs in that region; UCA students and others. Students will provide questions for the panel beforehand as well as throughout the event.

Next ONE Student ONE Vote events:

University of Pennsylvania on November 1
University of Washington on November 8.

OCC TV

Announcing the launch of OCC TV, starring VJs Erin Eegan and Weldon Kennedy. As long as it gets picked up by the OCC station- I think you can expect to see more;)

Pilot Episode:

Episode 2:

Collegiate ONE Dogs

Submitted in the ONE Campus Challenge.

Dylan from Hoffstra U:

An an unnamed dog from Boston U:

Good for 75 points each.

I Never Have This Much Fun Waiting For A Bus…

Just before boarding the bus to their October 17 Global Day of Action Against Poverty event, the students at Brandeis decided to take a group shot - and it turned out just fantastic enough to win this week’s ONE Campus Challenge photo of the week.

Check out the 1,000-point photo and the competition it beat from Duke, Rutgers and and Campbellsville University.

Rutgers woman struts stuff with hunger-stat sign:

Duke’s hunger map:

Campbellsville kitty: