By Beacon Editorial Board
Although our generation may be increasingly more apathetic, there are still those proactive individuals who are going out of their way to make a difference in the lives of others.
Receiving a challenge from the professors of her Gender, Poverty and Violence class, senior Kait Smith wanted to do something in response to the genocide in Darfur, Sudan.
Since 2003, the armed conflict in this western region of Sudan between the Janjaweed, a militia group, and the non-Baggara people has resulted in over 450,000 deaths, over two million refugees, and over 3.5 million individuals dependent on foreign aid, according to savedarfur.org. In addition to burning and destroying villages, killing tens of thousands of people, and raping and assaulting thousands of women, the Janjaweed have been killing aid workers as well, a "scare tactic" that has led to a decrease in humanitarian aid to the region.
Smith decided she had to take action to support one of the organizations that remains, Doctors Without Borders, in their efforts to alleviate the suffering caused by the conflict. About 35 other individuals who also wanted to help out and make a difference joined her.
"It's genocide," Smith said, "we have to do something." Although her first idea was to only to hold a fast, it "exploded" into African Solidarity Week, which began Monday and continues until tomorrow evening.
Smith's original plan to hold a fast is still a large aspect of the week. At the time of publication, over 100 participants had committed to the fast, which for many will begin tonight at 6:00 p.m. These participants are asked to donate the money they save by fasting to Doctors Without Borders in Darfur. The fast will be broken tomorrow, Friday, at 6 p.m. with a free dinner and discussion led by Portia Whitt, an aid worker for International Rescue Committee who has recently returned from Sudan, and Dr. Anne Santiago, the African politics professor on campus.
The Beacon Editorial Board encourages students not only to participate in these activities (and other similar events that demonstrate our University's commitment to service and global awareness), but also to take note of what just one challenge, a group of students, and a desire for change can do for millions of others.
