News Releases

November 15, 2006 – New York, NY – Student leaders representing Iona College and eight other Catholic colleges from New York City and the Lower Hudson Valley will visit the United Nations Friday for a day-long workshop focusing on the U.N. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in pursuing those goals. The eight MDGs range from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education, all by the target date of 2015.

The U.N. Day workshop, which is sponsored by the Lower Hudson Valley Catholic College and University Consortium and the International Catholic Organization Information Center (ICOIC), will familiarize students with the United Nations’ mission and encourage ongoing involvement with the international organization.

The day’s activities will include a welcome by Dr. Barbara Ellen Black, executive director of the Consortium, a tour of the U.N. building, an overview of the United Nations by Sr. Lucianne Siers, OP, director of the Partnership for Global Justice, and presentations by U.N representatives. In addition, Sr. Rita Arthur, RSHM, liaison to the United Nations; Sr. Dorothy Farley, OP, executive director of the International Catholic Organizations Information Center; and Sr. Eileen Gannon, OP, Dominican Leadership Conference NGO representative to the United Nations, will lead presentations and facilitate discussions on the MDGs and global humanitarian efforts. Students will also have an opportunity to make presentations on their schools’ service programs.

Dr. Black explained that the common Catholic philosophy and heritage of the Consortium’s member institutions “demand a greater awareness of the Millennium Development Goals. Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, ensuring at least primary education for all children, and sustaining the environment are goals in concert with Catholic social teachings. Student leaders should have first-hand exposure to these issues, and what better arena in which to explore them than the United Nations?”

Audrey Emaus, a junior international business major from Ontario, New York is one of 15 students representing Iona at the event. Last April she participated in the Model United Nations National Conference and believes today’s event will provider her with greater understanding of the U.N.’s mission and operations. “I am particularly interested in the goal of eliminating severe poverty and hunger,” she said. “Considering the amount of food that is wasted every day, it is indefensible that anyone should go hungry.”

The Lower Hudson Valley Catholic College and University Consortium was founded in 2002 to help Catholic mission-based institutions of higher education share and pool their resources. The Consortium is comprised of The College of Mount Saint Vincent, The College of New Rochelle, Dominican College, Fordham University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Mount Saint Mary College, St. John’s University, and St. Thomas Aquinas College. Each institution is sending 12-24 students and several faculty members to the U.N. Day workshop.

The International Catholic Organizations Information Center supports representatives of International Catholic Organizations (ICOs), religious orders and congregations, and other Catholic organizations affiliated with the United Nations as non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Established over 60 years ago, it works towards systemic change in the pursuit of peace and justice by means of mutual support and collaboration.

To learn more about the Millennium Development Goals, visit www.un.org/millenniumgoals/.

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For questions or more information please contact:
Cecilia Donohoe
Public Relations Office
Iona College, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, N.Y. 10801
tel: (914) 633-2005 fax: (914) 637-2711
cdonohoe@iona.edu

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