Former President Bill Clinton took a break from campaigning Wednesday to announce the expansion of his Clinton Global Initiative.

The new Clinton Global Initiative University event challenges college students to take on global issues including climate change, global health, human rights and poverty, and then take concrete steps to improve such issues.

CGI U’s inaugural meeting will be held at Tulane University in New Orleans March 14-16. The event is only open to college students, administrators and partners with mtvU.

Through CGI U, Clinton specifically challenges college students � whether they attend the New Orleans event or not � to stand up and take action.

�Young people have proven they are committed to changing the world, and they have enormous power to do so,� Clinton told student journalists Wednesday. �With mtvU and the Internet and all these social networking sites, students can connect with each other like never before, learn more about what needs to be done and join together to make a real difference.�

Clinton added students can have the biggest impact by helping make their universities carbon neutral to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. On a smaller scale, the former president said students can donate money to support public health issues.

�It will vary community to community based on what the needs are,� Clinton said.

CGI U expands the broad Clinton Global Initiative, which began in 2005 with the goal of turning ideas into action. CGI U focuses on doing the same at the college level by asking students to make specific commitments of time, money or ideas.

�This is exciting to me. I hope we get a lot of interest in it,� Clinton said. �We all have power to change and improve the world.�

Tulane University President Scott Cowen said Wednesday his university is excited to be hosting the event, given his students’ desire to help change the world.

�After [Hurricane] Katrina, Tulane significantly increased its commitment to civic engagement by becoming the first major research university in the United States to require public service for graduation,� Cowen said.

Clinton hopes universities from all across the country will be represented, including the University of Wisconsin.

Students can apply to go to New Orleans by visiting www.cgiu.org. The application deadline is Feb. 18.