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Scenes from The University of Rhode Island

URI students to hold hunger banquet, April 22

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KINGSTON, R.I. -- April 20, 2004 -- More than 100 University of Rhode Island students are expected to gather on URI’s Kingston quadrangle to participate in a hunger banquet on Thursday, April 22 at 6 p.m. In case of rain, the banquet will be held in Atrium 1 of the Memorial Union. The event is open to public.

Co-sponsored by URI’s Clearinghouse for Volunteers and Model United Nations organization, the "banquet" will serve food representing first, second, and third world countries. Mimicking the world food situation, about 60 percent of the diners at the banquet will be served third world food, 25 percent will be served second world food, while 15 percent who represent first world populations will be treated to a catered meal. The point, according to Jamie McNally, coordinator of the Clearinghouse for Volunteer Office, is to visually demonstrate the marked differences in access to food in this world. What participants get to eat will be randomly selected.

Doreen Holmes, director of St. Patrick’s Meal Kitchen in Providence, is the invited speaker. She will speak from her personal experience serving the hungry.

Immediately following the dinner, URI’s Big Band will play lively swing tunes.

Tickets are $4 or $3 with a canned good. Tickets can be purchased at the Clearinghouse office in Room 125 of Roosevelt Hall. Tickets can also be purchased from members of the Model United Nations organization who will be selling tickets on the quadrangle April 20 through 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets may also be purchased the evening of the event.