Clinton invites MU, all college students to public service

By Jedd Rosche

Published Feb. 13, 2008

Former President Bill Clinton wants the college student to get out and commit to public service.

In a telephone news conference today, Clinton, along with Tulane University President Scott Cowen, invited all university students to attend the first meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative University in New Orleans, this March.

College Media Network of mtvU conducted the conference, which was held today at about 1:15 p.m. Central Time.

Cowen introduced Clinton by reiterating his university's commitment to volunteering and civic participation. "The Tulane student body has always been involved with public service," he said. Cowen said after Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans in 2005, Tulane became one of the first major universities in the country to require students to participate in public service in order to graduate. After inviting students to the conference, Clinton accepted three questions from the press. Only reporters from College Media Networks were permitted to ask questions. During his answers to those questions, Clinton asked students to work toward making campuses "carbon-neutral," finding community service projects that were local and to fight anti-immigration and anti-trade sentiments in order to preserve free trade globally.

The Clinton Global Initiative, which houses CGI U, started in 2005.