November 20, 2006
Eager to learn how to make the world a better place, 20 students
from St. John’s University gathered at the United Nations on
November 17 with peers from other local Catholic colleges to
learn how they can support the U.N.’s Millennium Goals.
The day-long workshop at the U.N. building on Manhattan's East
Side was part of “Empowering Student Leaders 2006-2007,” sponsored
by the Lower Hudson Valley Catholic College and University
Consortium and the International Catholic Organization.
Along with St. John’s University, the Lower Hudson Valley
Catholic College and University Consortium comprises the College of
Mount St. Vincent, the College of New Rochelle, Dominican College,
Fordham University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Mount St. Mary
College and St. Thomas Aquinas College.
Goals for All to Achieve
At the workshop, students learned about the U.N.’s goals for world
peace and justice, along with ways young people can make those
goals a part of their college education.
The program reflects the goals of Catholic higher education in
general and St. John’s University in particular. Founded by the
Vincentian Fathers in 1870, St. John’s promotes the values of St.
Vincent de Paul, who strived to improve the lives of the needy
through education and service.
During the day-long event, students learned how the U.N. works
to promote social justice and improve the lives of the needy
throughout the world. Students paid particular attention to the
U.N. Millennium Goals, which states that the following objectives
can be achieved by 2015:
- Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger
- Ensuring that all young people complete primary school
- Promoting gender equality and empowering women
- Reducing by two-thirds the mortality rate of children under
five
- Reducing by three-quarters the ratio of women dying in child
birth
- Halting and reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS and other major
diseases
- Ensuring environmental sustainability
- Fostering a global partnership for development
The workshop emphasized the observation by U.N. Secretary
General Kofi Annan that these goals can be achieved not by the U.N.
itself, but by “each of its Member States, by the joint efforts of
their governments and people.”
Service Around the World
These goals have special resonance for St. John’s University, which
encourages students to serve others in the New York area and around
the world.
On a global scale, St. John’s offers a variety of initiatives to
help students learn the value of diversity and service. This
spring, for example, the University launches “Discover the
World-Europe,” a unique study abroad program that allows students
to earn 15 credits in one semester through course work and service
opportunities in Rome, Paris and Salamanca, Spain.
The student leaders from St. John’s who participated in the
day-long workshop represent such campus organizations as Campus
Ministry, Habitat for Humanity and the Social Justice
“Living-Learning Community.” St. John’s established various
“Living-Learning Communities” in the University’s residence halls
to promote student leadership.