"'We' is the most important word in politics," Hunter S. Thompson once said. Even if no one explicitly referenced Thompson's adage at last night's One Student One Vote forum, it certainly was the underlying message.

Moderated by Mike Allen of Politico.com, four panelists spoke to a room of more than 500 students on the challenges facing global health and poverty.

Allen lauded the ONE campaign for "emphasiz[ing] what's achievable" and for articulating ideas on issues that previous advocacy groups had framed in "abstract, gauzy" terms.

Following a performance by the African Children's Choir, an ensemble of seven 10-year-olds from Uganda, who are, as Allen put it, "living in conditions the ONE campaign wants to alleviate," the panelists were introduced and spoke about the importance of the ONE campaign, as well as ending poverty and disease.

Loyce Mbewa-On'gudi, a graduate student in the School of Public Affairs and founder of the Rabuor Village Project, encouraged the audience to not be complacent but not feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of the problem, either.

"I hope at the end of this event you come out energized and angry at the rising rates of poverty," Mbewa-On'gudi said. "I am still very angry, but [it is] not anger that hurts; it is anger that launches me into action. I too was feeling complacent. I moved out of my comfort zone."

Mbewa-On'gudi ended her opening remarks with a simple, yet moving message.

"Someone, somewhere is looking for somebody just like you," she said.

Patrick Duffy, the director of the Malaria Antigen Discovery Program and associate professor in the Department of Pathobiology, discussed the work he has been doing on malaria for 15 years.

"Three thousand children die from malaria every day," Duffy said. "Bed nets and drugs are only partially effective."

Ending the conditions of poverty and developing new vaccines are the other part of the equation. Duffy highlighted the work of UW students who are working on making a vaccine for pregnant women that blocks the parasite from implanting into the placenta.

State Sen. Ed Murray spoke about the political aspects of the ONE campaign and gave the audience advice he has found useful through his own personal experiences.

"You can inspire other people by who you are. You can make a difference," Murray said. "Break whatever barrier you need to break. Do that and you will inspire other people who you'll never even meet."

Natalie Sugira, an advocate working with ONE, said seeing a room full of people wanting to be a part of ONE keeps her going, and keeps her fighting to end poverty and cure HIV/AIDS.

Born outside of Kigali, Rwanda, Sugira told the story of a life-long friend who survived the Rwandan genocide but died two years ago as a result of HIV/AIDS.

"I have seen it; I have lived it," Sugira said, regarding the litany of numbers and statistics given out concerning the situation in Africa. "It's not a joke, not statistics; people are dying."

Sugira appealed to the audience to use their voice and exercise their rights as citizens in a democracy.

"You can use your voice, you can volunteer," she said. "Everyone is looking up to you. When you are given so much, you are expected to give back. I am trying to challenge you to get out of your comfort zone. You're in a position to change the world."

ASUW President Tyler Dockins said the event was a huge success, citing the fact that five times as many people attended this event as did at other campuses.

"The biggest thing is raising awareness," he said. "It's exciting to have such an incredible turnout. [It's] indicative of how concerned we are on global challenges."

Junior Reuben Holober enjoyed the event as well.

"It is interesting to hear difference perspective on how we as everyday people can make profound changes if we set our minds to it," he said.

Allen was also impressed by the engagement of the audience.

"This was such a knowledgeable and enthusiastic audience," Allen said. "It's very rare you have a bigger crowd at the end than you do at the beginning, which is a real tribute to this student body."

[Reach reporter Garrett Troy at news@thedaily.washington.edu.]