S. Jersey students work to raise Darfur awareness

A group of Burlington County College students are working hard to bring home the reality of genocide in Darfur.

"I don't think [students] fully understand the impact of what genocide can do," said Sean Parsons, a second-year BCC student from Marlton. "A lot of students don't fully understand how far it is from [American] morals and ethics."

Thursday will be a day of campus-wide awareness and fund-raising for the Darfur region of Sudan, where the country's government-sponsored militias have killed hundreds of thousands of tribal members and displaced millions more.

The violent campaign began in 2003 in retaliation for attacks on government targets by black African rebels who accused the government of favoring Arabs in the region.

Students on the Pemberton campus will make pins to alert others to the Darfur crisis, and at 6:30 p.m. independent filmmaker Jen Marlowe will present her documentary Darfur Diaries: Message From Home at the Mount Laurel campus. Marlowe also will sign and sell her book Darfur Diaries: Stories of Survival.

"I didn't want to just bring a movie," said Cathy Briggs, associate dean of student activities and campus programs, adding that she wanted a program that was engaging and had a lasting effect.

Parsons said, "If you raise awareness and visibly show [students] . . . they are more inclined to want to participate and get involved."

Other local college groups also are educating students about Darfur.

Villanova University's chapter of STAND, a student-led branch of the Genocide Intervention Network, will observe a Darfur Awareness Week from Oct. 20 to 26. Events include speakers, advocacy efforts, and a benefit concert with student bands. A model refugee tent will be set up on campus all week.

"It's going to be a huge display," said Beth Atwalt of Cockeysville, Md., STAND's copresident.

Last year, Villanova's chapter donated more than $3,000 to U.N. peacekeeping in Sudan, Atwalt said.

This year, she hopes to reach out to people on campus who might not ordinarily be involved.

"Advocation and awareness are what motivate people to make those changes," said Atwalt, a junior. "It's very much a human-rights issue."

At the University of Pennsylvania, the campus Amnesty International chapter spreads awareness.

The human-rights organization recently teamed with Project Nur, a group that promotes understanding between Muslim and non-Muslim students, to host a lecture and iftaar, the dinner at the end of the day during Ramadan.

Brianne Blakey, campus Amnesty International president, said about 40 students attended. Despite the decent turnout, though, she would like to see more activism on campus.

"I do think a lot of people are aware of it," said Blakey, a junior from Doylestown. "I would like them to be more motivated and more encouraged. The little action they do, and continuing action, can make an impact."

BCC students agreed that although many college students are aware of Darfur, some because of American Idol or MTV, they aren't motivated to act because they don't fully understand the situation.

"Darfur is a really serious matter," said BCC student Laura Dyer of Medford, president of the Student Government Association. "We didn't think students realized how serious it was."

But the interest generated on campus for Thursday's event already has exceeded students' expectations.

About 400 tickets have been distributed to professors who are incorporating the program into their classes and requiring students to attend the presentation in the Enterprise Center on Route 38 in Mount Laurel. Interest has been so overwhelming, Briggs said, that 200 more people will watch the presentation via simulcast.

"That energy is absolutely exciting," Briggs said.

The idea for a Darfur event originated about a year ago, she said. Over the summer, she teamed with the SGA service chair, Liz Loftin of Browns Mills, and BCC's Center for Social Justice.

Parsons, Dyer and Loftin hope the presentation inspires students to act.

"I personally hope that people are a little shocked," Parsons said. "Ignorance is not bliss. When people are educated, they become motivated."

"Darfur Diaries: Message From Home"

6:30 p.m. Thursday, Enterprise Center, 3331 Route 38, Mount Laurel. Tickets are $10, sold on a first come, first served basis. The community is welcome. All proceed benefit relief efforts in Darfur.

For information, call 609-894-9311, Ext. 1238.

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