ONE LAPTOP PER CHILD/ THE XO COMPUTER

When I first got to Baruch in 2006, I heard a question raised about our prized diversity at Baruch from President Waldron. She said we know we are the most diverse institution but how does that translate to our culture or school on the whole?

Students from both sections of ANT1001 today agreed to launch a plan to invite the Baruch Community to participate in a ONE LAPTOP PER CLASS campaign (classes of 20 or more). We can donate money for an XO laptop for a child in the Third World that is being nationally advertised on TV and radio.

(How many classes do you think there at Baruch?)

DIVERSITY AT BARUCH AND FOR THE WORLD
As a diverse school representing over 121 countries, we as Baruch College have a unique opportunity to give laptops to educate the children of the world. The buy one get one campaign is $349 a pair but its only $199 to give a laptop. Let's just give laptops!!

With 20 students in a class, that $10 per person. $20 for two.
With 30 students, it's only $6 per person or $12 for two.

There are 57 students combined in both sections. 95% of those present were willing to support the campaign and/or contribute to a laptop. I am going to contact OLPC and see if THEY'LL set up a system for us. I already sent the email just now.

We have a committee of 8 students (Daniela, Enki, Bilal, Kashif, Ellie, Nuzzy, and Diana and maybe Angel) working to organize things.

ON THU DEC 11: We are creating a viral video on Thu and if approved it would be shown on the video kiosks on campus and linked as an announcement on Baruch sites and emails.

VIRAL CAMPAIGNING
We are on to an effective viral campaign. It could be city wide universities and colleges or even nationwide. Every child should have access to an education no matter where they are from. By tapping our own diversity at Baruch we can bridge the gaps that divide us (between students/faculty/staff, between nations/ethnicities, sexes, abilites, etc.).

If we play it right, we should contact OLPC with this as a idea to launch at all universities and colleges with Baruch as the leader.

I am writing for your support and participation. Regarding collecting money, given the short notice, we will simply use Amazon.com this year and create an old-fashioned (paper and pen) system of accounting for how much each class raises as well as posting it on our blog.

DATES
The span of the campaign would be from Fri Dec 12 to Wed Dec 23. If anyone wanted to contribute through Dec 31 online that would be fine too as long as they could note that on our blog.

I am aiming for at least 400 laptops this year. Next year? let's see how we do this year!

The mission of the OLPC campaign is to be able to provide laptops children can take home every night in an entire school. I think we could do something amazing (Obama like) in just 10 days.

CAN I COUNT ON YOUR SUPPORT?
This is a SIMPLE viral, online and email campaign. No paper flyers. I want to send an announcement inviting all faculty and staff to participate in all three schools by Friday.