NEWS

Once again, Obies ranked very P.C.

Hillary Clinton praises Oberlin for strong Peace Corps volunteers

by Bill Lascher

In keeping with its volunteerist reputation, Oberlin College has recently been recognized for the amount of graduates it contributes to the Peace Corps.

In a recent publication of The 1998 List of Smaller Colleges and Universities with Graduates Currently Serving as Peace Corps Volunteers, Oberlin ranks sixth nationwide.

Last year 19 Oberlin graduates served in the Peace Corps. According to information publicized by the Career Services Office, there are now approximately 6,700 Peace Corps volunteers overall. They serve in over 80 countries, from the Ukraine to Uzbekistan to Ghana, El Salvador and Bangladesh. Volunteers help in a variety of tasks, including food relief, education and combating the spread of AIDS.

Although the College ranked sixth last year in the amount of graduates it sent to the Peace Corps, since the organization began in 1961, Oberlin has contributed the third-largest amount of volunteers for the Peace Corps from small colleges. Only Dartmouth College and the University of Chicago have produced more. In 1998, American University, the University of Chicago, Carleton College, Tufts University and Colorado College were the only schools to produce more volunteers.

Oberlin has been recognized by several prominent individuals for its contribution to the Peace Corps. Last September, College President Nancy Dye received a letter from First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, commending the College for producing so many volunteers for the organization.

In the letter, Clinton said volunteers from Oberlin College "are among our nation's best and brightest, and their decision to join the Peace Corps reflects not only the quality of their education but also the spirit of service that is fostered on the Campus of Oberlin College."

Clinton added, "I send my congratulations to you for that role in ensuring the Peace Corps' tradition of service and I urge you to continue to encourage your students to explore the extraordinary opportunities that come with serving in the Peace Corps."

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Copyright © 1998, The Oberlin Review.
Volume 127, Number 14, February 19, 1998

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