2008 Woodie Awards
Amnesty International Takes Action
Megan Verma
Issue date: 4/7/05 Section: Features
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You may have seen the signs posted around campus advertising Sudan Sundays in the Campus Center, but never had the time to stop and really pay attention to what they were advertising. The Sophian spoke recently with the two co-chairs of Amnesty International (AI), the student organization that sponsors Sudan Sundays, about why the org feels the need to call attention to events in that particular region.
Milen Yishan '05, a co-chair of the org, said the idea was born when Smith student Min Kim '08 approached her about becoming actively involved in stopping the genocide taking place in the Darfur region of Sudan. Kim, a member of UNICEF, was inspired to take action after learning of the atrocities and crimes against humanity taking place in Darfur. Along with several other students, Yishan and Kim decided to host weekly events in the Campus Center instead of organizing a single event.
The events, designed to alert the college community about the human rights violations happening in Darfur, involve showing clips of speakers and documentaries of the past and present situation in the region. In order to earn funds for the cause, Darfur bracelets can be purchased at www.savedarfur.org for about $15 for 10 bracelets.
As Yishan stated, "A lot of people were interested in helping with the situation, but nothing was being done about it." Candace Gibson '07, the other co-chair of Amnesty International, shared her colleague's view, saying, "We want to bring campus awareness to this issue. There is lots of dialogue going on about Africa, but most students still don't know what's going on in Darfur." Yishan mentioned a talk concerning the topic that was given by Smith English professor Eric Reeves in the Campus Center last semester. Yishan said that even though the event attracted about 100 people, few students around campus seem to know about it.
In addition to Sudan Sundays, Amnesty International also organizes letter-writing campaigns to governments and organizations suspected of committing crimes against humanity and petitions for the release of political prisoners. The group is currently immersed in writing letters to congressmen and women regarding Senate Bill 495, also known as the Darfur Accountability Act.
Milen Yishan '05, a co-chair of the org, said the idea was born when Smith student Min Kim '08 approached her about becoming actively involved in stopping the genocide taking place in the Darfur region of Sudan. Kim, a member of UNICEF, was inspired to take action after learning of the atrocities and crimes against humanity taking place in Darfur. Along with several other students, Yishan and Kim decided to host weekly events in the Campus Center instead of organizing a single event.
The events, designed to alert the college community about the human rights violations happening in Darfur, involve showing clips of speakers and documentaries of the past and present situation in the region. In order to earn funds for the cause, Darfur bracelets can be purchased at www.savedarfur.org for about $15 for 10 bracelets.
As Yishan stated, "A lot of people were interested in helping with the situation, but nothing was being done about it." Candace Gibson '07, the other co-chair of Amnesty International, shared her colleague's view, saying, "We want to bring campus awareness to this issue. There is lots of dialogue going on about Africa, but most students still don't know what's going on in Darfur." Yishan mentioned a talk concerning the topic that was given by Smith English professor Eric Reeves in the Campus Center last semester. Yishan said that even though the event attracted about 100 people, few students around campus seem to know about it.
In addition to Sudan Sundays, Amnesty International also organizes letter-writing campaigns to governments and organizations suspected of committing crimes against humanity and petitions for the release of political prisoners. The group is currently immersed in writing letters to congressmen and women regarding Senate Bill 495, also known as the Darfur Accountability Act.