By Jesse Serwer
Following in the footsteps of past guests such as Pakistan's former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto and New York state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, Powell was the featured speaker at Molloy's fifth annual Joseph F. Maher Leadership Forum.
While armed guards in riot gear patrolled the grounds outside, Powell made light of his recent adjustment to life as a civilian, joking about his purchase of a Corvette and being frisked at the airport, before urging listeners to look beyond the conflict in Iraq and help further goodwill in the world at large.
"The best way not to have another 9/11 is to reach out to the rest of the world and show them what we are all about," said the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who was backed on the podium by student leaders from Molloy and area high schools. "While we secure ourselves, let's not close ourselves off."
Labeling U.S. poverty-fighting funding insufficient, Powell suggested that the U.S. and other developed nations do more to help Africa and Latin America deal with their problems. "The greatest weapon of mass destruction in the world is HIV/AIDS," he said. "We must do more to help the underdeveloped nations of the world, not out of pity but because it serves us, and the world, to give them our help."
The leadership forum has quickly become an institution at the college, which has seen significant growth in its local and national profile under president Drew Bogner, a resident of Rockville Centre. The forum was launched by Molloy Trustee Ann Barlow, the daughter of Joseph Maher, the forum's namesake. "The [forum] started as a way to bring global leaders in to Molloy and speak to the bigger community, beyond the college, about today's issues," Barlow said. "I can't think of anyone who [better] embodies what Molloy is about - excellence and truth and open discussion of issues," she said of Powell.
A question-and-answer session followed Powell's speech, and at least one student was disappointed that she didn't get to ask Powell a question. "I wanted to know, while the U.S. is helping out all over the world, who is helping us here with homelessness, poverty and AIDS," said Lizette Redwine, a Molloy sophomore. "AIDS is a huge problem here, too. Who is rushing to our aid?"
Rita Martinelli, a student in Maher's constitutional law and Western civilization classes, seized the moment and shook Powell's hand the first chance she got. "It was great just to be up there," said Martinelli.
Comments on this story? JSerwer@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 221.
