Fourteen new School students will attend
clinton global initiative university
Students Solve Key Development and Sustainability Problems
NEW YORK, April 15, 2010—Fourteen New School students have been accepted to the Clinton Global Initiative—University (CGI U), which will take place at the University of Miami from April 16-18. Modeled on the Clinton Global Initiative, which engages world leaders against environmental, economic, and public health challenges, the CGI U invites college students to submit proposals that address global problems, dubbed “commitments to action.” Students are then invited to the three-day meeting to brainstorm with peers from around the world exchanging viewpoints and practical tools to realize their commitments.
“It is fitting that so many New School students have been chosen,” said Tim Marshall. Provost of The New School. “This competition dovetails with our mission—as we are a university that promotes intellectual, creative, and civic engagement with the world. Students from across disciplines are closely connected to devising solutions to improve lives. The history of The New School has paved the way for these students who think big and who put big ideas into action.”
At the three-day meeting, students discuss five focus areas: education, environment and climate change, peace and human rights, poverty alleviation, and public health. In the CGI U’ s first two years, students’ commitments have ranged from distributing life-saving water filtration kits to designing medical backpacks for nomadic doctors in Africa, from installing energy-efficient light bulbs to establishing campus bike share programs.
In this highly selective competition, 4,000 students from across the globe apply for approximately 1,200 slots. This year, attendees include nearly 100 college and university presidents, along with professors, activists, business leaders, government figures, and celebrities. Other guests include Usher Raymond, hip-hop star and founder of Ushers New Look; Paul Farmer, founder of Partners in Health; Michelle Norris, host of NPR’s “All Things Considered;” Regina Benjamin, U.S. Surgeon General; John Podesta, former White House Chief of Staff and CEO of the Center for American Progress; and Heather Graham, actress.
Students must apply to this free conference, and in their applications they must include a commitment to action. Since the inaugural meeting three years ago, nearly 2,000 commitments have been made. All Students can apply for awards from $1,000-$10,000 to implement their commitments. These additional applications are due on April 23. For more information about CGI U please see www.cgiu.org and for more information about students commitments to action see http://cgiu.clintonglobalinitiative.org/Page.aspx?pid=3592.
About The New School
Located in the heart of New York’s Greenwich Village, The New School is a center of academic excellence where intellectual and artistic freedoms thrive. More than 10,200 matriculated students and 6,400 continuing education students enjoy a disciplined education supported by small class sizes, superior resources, and renowned working faculty members who practice what they teach. The New School is comprised of The New School for General Studies, The New School for Social Research, Milano The New School for Management and Urban Policy, Parsons The New School for Design, Eugene Lang College The New School for Liberal Arts, Mannes College The New School for Music, The New School for Drama, and The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. For more information, please visit http://www.newschool.edu.
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