Student group recognized for raising awareness of poverty

Though the Boston University insignia may not invoke a sense of activism, one campus group is trying to change that and has earned the school a top spot in a nationwide competition recognizing student service.

The BU chapter of the ONE Campaign, aimed at fighting global poverty, placed fourth out of more than 1,300 college chapters competing in the ONE Campus Challenge. College groups can earn points by recruiting students from their schools and using creative methods to raise awareness about poverty.

The BU chapter has earned points by inviting U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) to campus and photographing him in a ONE wristband. Members also held an Oct. 16 rally in Morse Auditorium.

The chapter will also try to earn points by recruiting five student groups to sign the ONE declaration, said Campus Challenge Committee co-chairwoman Nicole Santomauro, adding the group also plans on getting a Campus Challenge link posted on the BU homepage.

ONE press secretary Kimberly Cadena said the BU chapter may have become successful because the challenge gives campus groups freedom to choose how to raise awareness.

"There isn't a cookie-cutter method to earn points," she said. "The methods groups choose can express their student body's personality."

"If you join ONE, you don't have to fundraise," said BU ONE chapter president Rebecca Ryan, a College of Arts and Sciences sophomore. "You just have to give your time, and anyone can do that."

"I've always been interested in community service, and I really wanted to get involved in the fight against poverty," Santomauro said.

In January, ONE will fly representatives from the top 100 schools to Washington, D.C. for a three-day conference about student activism and global poverty. In February, it will give the top 10 schools grants to fund poverty-fighting programs on their campuses.

In March, the winning campus group will be rewarded with a school concert, Cadena said.

While she said the rewards are great, Ryan said other reasons make her want to win the challenge.

"I was brought up to believe that I'm really lucky to have everything I have," she said. "It's my job to do what I can to help those who are less fortunate."