UF’s chapter of the international nonprofit group One launched a campaign Tuesday to get students involved with November’s senatorial election.
The campaign, One Vote 2010, kicked off with a conference call that featured George W. Bush’s daughter, Barbara Bush, encouraging students to take advantage of their political power and willingness to advocate for the cause.
“College students have an extremely unique position in politics today,” she said.
The campaign is also taking place at other chapters at colleges across the country. Domonique Worship, president of the UF chapter, said her group is aiming to drum up support among students who care about ending poverty.
“We’re trying to infuse the student body in the fight against extreme global poverty,” she said.
“We just want to show people that they really can make a difference.”
Matt Higginson, the national campaign’s senior manager of college organizing, said the goal is to make sure college chapters are utilized to influence their local campaigns and flex their political muscle.
Worship, a political science senior, said the group’s aim is to push candidates to support legislation favorable to people in developing countries, specifically through The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
During the conference call, Bush clearly outlined the campaign’s goal.
“We need to make sure the global fund is replenished this year,” she said.
The UF chapter of One Campus is also participating in a school supplies drive that benefits underprivileged families in Gainesville.
The group, with the help of the Gainesville chapter of Altrusa International, is collecting school supplies at Library West and 155 Tigert Hall.
