CWU President Works To Unite Divided America

October 5, 2005

Contact: Dr. Elizabeth Street (509-963-2111/fax 509-963-2306/e-mail: streetl@cwu.edu)

ELLENSBURG , Wash. - Central Washington University President Jerilyn S. McIntyre is among more than 100 prominent university presidents, business and religious leaders, policy institute officials, former diplomats, Congressional members and military personnel who have joined the newly formed "National Committee to Unite a Divided America."

Co-founded by former ambassador David Abshire, the bipartisan committee's goal is to emphasize the need for civility and inclusiveness in public life.

"I was honored to be one of a handful of university presidents asked to become a member of the committee which includes among its steering committee members individuals as diverse in their political views as The Honorable James Baker, The Honorable Jeane J. Kirkpatrick, The Honorable Zbigniew Brezezinski, The Honorable Melvin Laird, The Honorable Madeleine K. Albright and The Honorable Sam Nunn," McIntyre says.

The committee operates under the auspices of the Center for the Study of the Presidency, in Washington, D.C., where Abshire serves as president and chief executive officer. Abshire was one of the featured speakers during the 2004-05 CWU Presidential Speaker Series, at which he focused his remarks on the importance of civility and inclusiveness among our nation's leaders.

The committee has already issued a "Declaration on Civility and Inclusive Leadership," which, in part, calls on President Bush and members of Congress to "increase civility and inclusive leadership, while welcoming constructive advice and debate, to strengthen national unity of purpose and spirit."

The declaration further urges leaders to make use of the nation's most creative minds, regardless of party affiliation, to deal with the war in Iraq, nuclear weapons proliferation, spiraling healthcare costs, extended military deployments, trade and budget deficits and other urgent national matters