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Historical Marker Unveiled at University of Michigan to Celebrate 50 years of the Peace Corps
It was on those same steps 50 years ago Thursday that then-Sen. John F. Kennedy encouraged students to serve in developing countries. He planted the seeds, and the Peace Corps has grown significantly. "The movement that began here in Ann Arbor went on to change the way America sees the world -- and the way the world sees this country," said Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams, one of several people who spoke. A historical marker recognizing the birth of the Peace Corps was unveiled Thursday at the corner of State and South University.
Historical Marker Unveiled at University of Michigan to Celebrate 50 years of the Peace Corps
50 years of the Peace Corps
U-M celebrates a call to service
BY CASSANDRA SPRATLING
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
Caption: Professor Rowell Huesmann, left, and Leah Gunn, both of Ann Arbor, view a historical marker observing the birthplace of the Peace Corps following a ceremony Thursday.
Hundreds of former Peace Corps volunteers joined University of Michigan students, professors, government leaders and others on the steps of the Michigan Union on Thursday to celebrate a call to service that began decades ago.
It was on those same steps 50 years ago Thursday that then-Sen. John F. Kennedy encouraged students to serve in developing countries. He planted the seeds, and the Peace Corps has grown significantly.
"The movement that began here in Ann Arbor went on to change the way America sees the world -- and the way the world sees this country," said Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams, one of several people who spoke.
A historical marker recognizing the birth of the Peace Corps was unveiled Thursday at the corner of State and South University.
Williams and U-M President Mary Sue Coleman announced a partnership that will allow selected students to serve in the Peace Corps and earn graduate degrees from the School of Education, the School of Natural Resources and Environment or the School of Social Work.
"We are pleased to partner with the Peace Corps and add to our outstanding graduate programs new and exciting opportunities for our students to combine excellent academic preparation with international service," Coleman said.
Many former Peace Corps volunteers have been at the university all week attending anniversary activities.
Among those present was a student leader who helped organize the Peace Corps: Alan Guskin, 73, president emeritus of Antioch University. He was a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand from 1961-64. "I'm just overwhelmed," Guskin said. "It has been a fantastic few days to relive this moment in my life."
Tom Hayden, 70, a writer and lecturer in Los Angeles, was editor of the Michigan Daily when the Peace Corps began.
"I wouldn't have missed this; you don't get many opportunities to relive important moments in your own life," Hayden said Wednesday.
"The idea of international service has been universalized and accepted," Hayden said. "If you go on any campus, you find students signing up for some form of public service."
Many of the former volunteers said serving in the Peace Corps made them better people.
Don Bendure, 65, a native Detroiter who lives in Springfield, Ill., taught math and science to students in Sierra Leone from 1968-70.
"When you live in a poor country, you learn to appreciate life," he said. "So many people there had so little, yet they appreciated living. Some of us, all we do is complain and we have a lot. You learn that if you have friends and family, you have a lot."
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Headlines: October, 2010; 50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps; Michigan
When this story was posted in November 2010, this was on the front page of PCOL:
Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
Big Omission in Comprehensive Report
The Peace Corps has always neglected the third goal, allocating less than 1% of their resources to it, so when Aaron Williams promised Senator Dodd to provide a "Comprehensive Assessment Report" with ideas to strengthen and reform the agency's operations we expected to see some forceful recommendations to address this critical weakness. Read the report and our commentary on the big omission in the third goal that committee members didn't address, discuss, or even mention.
Memo to Incoming Director Williams
PCOL has asked five prominent RPCVs and Staff to write a memo on the most important issues facing the Peace Corps today. Issues raised include the independence of the Peace Corps, political appointments at the agency, revitalizing the five-year rule, lowering the ET rate, empowering volunteers, removing financial barriers to service, increasing the agency's budget, reducing costs, and making the Peace Corps bureaucracy more efficient and responsive. Latest: Greetings from Director Williams
Join Us Mr. President!
"We will double the size of the Peace Corps by its 50th anniversary in 2011. And we'll reach out to other nations to engage their young people in similar programs, so that we work side by side to take on the common challenges that confront all humanity," said Barack Obama during his campaign. Returned Volunteers rally and and march to the White House to support a bold new Peace Corps for a new age. Latest: Senator Dodd introduces Peace Corps Improvement and Expansion Act of 2009 .
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