President Clinton launched the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) in 2007 to engage the next generation of leaders on college campuses around the world. Each year, CGI U hosts a meeting where students, youth organizations, topic experts, and celebrities come together to discuss and develop innovative solutions to pressing global challenges. This year, CGI U will be held at Washington University in St. Louis from April 5 - 7, 2013, bringing together nearly 1,200 attendees to make a difference in CGI U's five focus areas: Education, Environment and Climate Change, Peace and Human Rights, Poverty Alleviation, and Public Health.

We are proud to have AASHE student representatives attending and promoting the important work of campus sustainability - read more about them and their commitments below!

Renee Dickman - University of South Carolina Columbia. Renee's CGIU commitment is "Columbia: Swap and Save!". The plan is designed to promote sustainability in the Columbia, SC community. With environmental concerns and economic hardship at the forefront of our nation’s challenges, this commitment will strive to tackle both issues by engaging the community in sustainable practices. The EcoReps at the University of South Carolina and their partners will engage Columbia citizens in money saving, sustainable actions such as light bulb swaps and health and earth-friendly cleaning. Our organization will cultivate collaborative relationships with local businesses and organizations to support and host educational information sessions across Columbia, paying particular attention to low income neighborhoods.

Ashley Fallon - The New School. Born and raised in Breezy Point, Queens, NY, Ashley has sometimes felt a bit of an outsider as an environmentalist in a blue collar, Tea Party-like town. On October 29th, Superstorm Sandy ripped through the community, where the massive flooding caused a fire that notoriously destroyed a section of homes just a stone's throw from her house. Ashley's commitment involves taking a needs assessment of the area, determining the appropriate response, and coordinating with private corporations, nonprofits, and local/federal governments to initiate action. This project is ongoing and would hopefully serve as a disaster response template for future events.

Gill Matan - University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Through the Clinton Global Initiatives program, Gill is partnering with his campus to develop a campus sustainability master plan whose objectives and vision are being crafted by a panel of students and administrators.

Niles Barnes - Duke University/AASHE. Full time graduate student and full time AASHE staffer, Niles is promoting various AASHE initiatives and programs at the CGI U event. One specific resource that will be highlighted is the new database of Green Revolving Funds developed in partnership with the Sustainable Endowments Institute. With colleges and universities seeking ways to finance campus sustainability, green revolving funds can be one mechanism to provide dedicated funding for institutions to invest in energy efficiency and resource efficiency projects. In addition, Niles will be promoting AASHE's upcoming conference, Student Summit and Sustainability Awards Program.

For those not attending but who want to keep up with the action check out the below sites:
* Live stream of CGI U plenary sessions
* CGI U Twitter and CGI U on Facebook
* AASHE Twitter and AASHE Facebook