The first-ever international convention of the nine-month old Student World Assembly, featuring 20 delegates from 15 countries on five continents, is being held this week.

The diverse group of college students has been in contact for months via the Internet. Their goal during the event is to get to know each other face to face, share their cultures and decide official positions on two issues: sustaining the environment worldwide and preventing war.

On Wednesday, students were still grappling with the precise wording on their collective posision on war. Their initial proposal was: "To help educate citizens of the world (especially children) on the causes and consequences of war"

Several delegates suggested modifications to demonstrate a desire to take action beyond just words. Eventually, the group decided to deliberate more later that day and expected to make formal vote on the language Thursday.

The brainchild of the assembly is Paul Raynault, a Canadian-born, New Kersey-based activist whose foundation is sponsoring the group. The student group is a pilot project of the World Assembly, which he started to provide representation to regular citizens around the world, much like the United Nations represents govenments.

"We're still in learning mode, which is the nature of a pilot project," he said Wednesday.

The Cal Poly connection came by way of a consultant for Raynault who live in Santa Margarita. Cal Poly political science professor Bud Evans learned about the project and helped bring the inaugural convention to San Luis Obispo.

The group has grown to more than 1,000 students today from 100 students 9 months ago, said Raynault. He hopes to have 10,000 members a year from now.

Assembly co-executive director Shahram Hashemi, and Iranian student at Adelphi University in New York, said the numbers have swelled by members telling friends about the group in person and via the Internet.

The goal, he said, is "to reach out to (students in) developing countries, to tell them about us and the opportunity we provide to give them a voice."

Twice as many delegates as showed up this week were interested in coming, Hashemi said, but many were unable to gain visas from the United States in time to attend.

Next year, the convention may be held in Canada.

Jeff Ballinger covers education for The Tribune and can be reached at 781-7908 or jballinger@thetribunenews.com.