The Standard

Issue date: 12/4/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Photo courtesy of the MSU ONE Campaign

Missouri State University was recently ranked as one of the top 20 universities in the nation in a contest to end worldwide poverty.

Missouri State outranked Notre Dame and Ivy League schools such as Harvard and Yale in the campus challenge held by The ONE Campaign.

The organization unites Americans to create an awareness of global poverty, hunger, diseases, such as AIDS, and requests national leaders to act on ending such problems that have had an impact on some of the world's poorest countries.

Schools are ranked based on points they receive for activities such as writing awareness-raising letters, recruiting politicians to the cause and making phone calls.

"We did a World AIDS Day awareness-raising event that earned us a ton of points and is responsible for the jump into 19th place," said Eric Mayle, chairman of MSU One.

"Throughout the year, we've been writing letters, making phone calls, visiting politicians on the campaign trail and talking to people one-on-one to get us to where we are now," Mayle said.

MSU One, which began its operations on campus less than a year ago, has 75 members.

Following the achievement, the organization will be sending one of its representatives to the Power 100 Summit in Washington, D.C. in February, where the winning school will be awarded a stipend to carry out its own poverty-fighting projects.

One is an organization with more than two million members, including non-profit, humanitarian and advocacy organizations.

"Turmoil. Distress. Starvation. Disease. Death," member Shannon Williamson said. "We live in a world where one billion people live on less than $1 a day; a world where 134 million children between the ages of seven and 18 have never been to school and where HIV/AIDS has created 14 million orphans.

"Poverty is destroying our world," the biomedical sciences major said. "MSU One is looking for anyone who is willing to take a stand against poverty with us.

"The more you get involved, the louder their voices will be heard."

Members of this organization seek solutions by advocating for more funding from the government toward improvement of underdeveloped countries, signing petitions, working with religious organizations, letter-writing activities and participating in awareness-raising activities.

"Using your voice with One Campaign isn't just about ending poverty or doing what's right, it's about making sure your government doesn't OK worldwide suffering in your name," Mayle said.

The top 100 schools were announced Wednesday.

"It's easy to get involved, and completely worth it. It doesn't take a lot of time, but you can still make a difference," Ann Maryniak, a sophomore member said. "I encourage everyone to attend a meeting if you are interested in helping to improve our world."

To join the organization, go to http://www.one.org/campus/ or http://www.one.org/ and sign up to be a member.

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