Marymount Manhattan Community Supports United Nations Academic Impact

In the 2009-2010 academic year, Marymount Manhattan College signed onto the United Nations (UN) Academic Impact, a global initiative that aligns institutions of higher education with the United Nations in actively supporting ten universally accepted principles. 

In an effort to bring awareness to these principles, eight Millennium Development Goals (MDG) were developed to be achieved by 2015 that respond to the world’s main development challenges. The MDGs are drawn from the actions and targets contained in the Millennium Declaration that was adopted by 189 nations – and signed by 147 heads of state and governments during the UN Millennium Summit in September 2000. 

The Millennium Development Goals are: 1) Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger; 2) Achieve Universal Primary Education; 3) Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women; 4) Reduce Child Mortality; 5) Improve Maternal Health; 6) Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Other Diseases; 7) Ensure Environmental Sustainability; and 8) Develop a Global Partnership for Development. 

From February 14 and 17, MMC’s Student Government Association (SGA) hosted a Millennium Development Goal (MDG) Week, to implement the United Nations Academic Impact. Student clubs and organizations participated in activities to promote the Millennium Development Goals. Each college division also promoted the MDGs in through their courses and activities. To view a photo gallery of events, click here. 

The International Studies Club kicked off the week’s activities by hosting a table in the Nugent Lounge where students could learn about the eight goals. Students were asked to select one goal that they personally felt was especially important to them. Each student was photographed with their goal and the photos were displayed on a wall of the Nugent Lounge.

International studies major Maria Paris ’12 was happy with the response from students and said it was an opportunity for students to become involved in international affairs. Paris, International Studies Club president, is from Venezuela, and identifies with MDG No. 1, Eradicate Extreme Hunger and Poverty. She said that the state of poverty in her country is the reason why she is studying international studies at Marymount Manhattan and that conversation about the MDG goals is a great way to shed light on such issues. 

Other events included film screenings of Who Killed the Electric Car?, Good Fortune and Sisters on the Planet. The film End of Poverty, was also shown to the campus community and followed by a Q & A session with the film’s producer Matthew Stillman. The film screenings, which were held on February 15, illustrated the extreme levels of poverty and exploitation throughout the world. After each film students discussed their reactions to each film. 

A Hunger Banquet and Final Wrap Up Concert was held on February 17, to illustrate the extreme differences in poverty and availability of food and nutrition. The banquet included comments from MMC President Judson R. Shaver, Ph.D., and Vice President for Student Affairs Carol Jackson, Ph.D. 

Julietta Lopez ’12, international studies and political science major, said Marymount Manhattan College will continue to implement the Millennium Development Goals through the fall 2011 semester. 

“We also hope faculty members will add the Millennium Development Goals to the MMC curriculum,” said Lopez, who is also vice president of SGA, will be sharing a report on MDG Week with the United Nations. “As MMC’s promise to the United Nations Academic Impact SGA will continue to educate the campus community through events like MDG Week.” 

Marymount Manhattan College is an urban, independent, liberal arts college. The mission of the College is to educate a socially and economically diverse student body by fostering intellectual achievement and personal growth and by providing opportunities for career development.

Published: February 24, 2011