The Red and Black

Issue date: 3/23/09 Section: Opinions

KIRK CARTER

Did you know that nearly half of the world's children live in poverty? When I first heard that fact, my emotions were mixed. Part of me was motivated to help alleviate this problem. Another part was troubled that I wasn't aware of the fact in the first place.

It was in the spirit of raising awareness about global poverty and fighting its spread in underdeveloped communities throughout the globe that I co-founded Nourish International.

Nourish's goal is to fight global poverty through the creation of sustainable development projects in the world's most underdeveloped communities. In our first year at the University, we've raised nearly $1,000 to fund a sustainable development project in Costa Rica this summer.

Although events such as Hunger Lunch have developed followings, our group's small size leaves me feeling Nourish is being pushed aside when it comes to reaching out to the University community.

I expected the challenge fighting global poverty would pose - that's why I signed onto the job. What I didn't expect was a constant uphill battle to achieve even a small shred of recognition on campus.

Although these feelings are my own, I'm certain that they are also felt among the leaders of the numerous small organizations that dot the landscape of this University. That's why I feel that we need student government that has a visible desire to help groups on campus that need extra assistance.

I appreciate the effort of the Remix Party in helping us to put on the most successful event in Nourish International's short history. Its willingness to help advocate and advertise on behalf of Nourish is hopefully indicative of the way they intend to run their administration.

For student organizations here on campus, the choice in this election seems to be pretty clear. The Remix Party has made a promise to back other student organizations with the full impact of their support.

Although my good friend Connor McCarthy has done an admirable job of improving the outreach SGA has with student groups, Laura Ann Thompson and the rest of her ticket want to take SGA's relations with student groups to a new level.

From my conversations with Remix executives, they want to restructure the ways in which SGA interacts with organizations across campus and improve the dialogue between student groups and a student government that could be their greatest advocate.

Although it may not mean much, I want to give the Remix Party the endorsement of Nourish International. I hope that other student groups here on campus will understand the importance of this election and vote Remix, too.

- Kirk Carter is a junior from Athens majoring in international affairs and history. He is the co-founder and chairman of Nourish International.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools