2008 Woodie Awards
Students nationwide take a S.T.A.N.D. for Darfur
Lisa Huynh
Issue date: 11/13/08 Section: News
Students from across the country united in Washington, D.C. from Nov. 7-10 for S.T.A.N.D. (the student-led division of genocide intervention) National Student Conference, to learn from policy experts to be more efficient advocates and end the genocide in the world. Student Chapters from 45 states in total were represented at the conference, including 15 people for the UNCW Chapter (the highest of the non-local colleges).
Over the span of three days, members of S.T.A.N.D. participated in workshops such as "Lobbying 101" and "Advocacy Savvy," taught by fellow students, panels of specialists, and discussed the genocide of not only Darfur, Sudan, but also branching out to the systematic destruction of the Congo and Burma. Keynote speakers such as journalist Roy Gutman, former U.S. State Department special representative Roger Winter, and Executive Director and Co-Founder of the U.S. Campaign for Burma Aung Din were present.
Josh Groll, UNCW's Chapter President and National Burma Coordinator relates on the experience in Washington, D.C, "The conference was wonderful because it gave the new students [in S.T.A.N.D.] an opportunity to learn how to actually advocate and educate others at the same time."
Early S.T.A.N.D. arrivers marched in the Transition Rally that kicked off at 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7 on the intersection of 17th Street and Constitution Avenue. The intention of the rally was to ensure the President-Elect Obama fulfill his promise to do everything in his power to bring the genocide in Darfur to an end. It was also meant to remind him to put Darfur as one of his top priorities during the first 100 days of his term.
Since 2003, the government of Sudan and Janjaweed (militias on horseback) has killed approximately 300,000 people and displaced more than 2.5 million in Darfur. The Janjaweed also destroy the Darfurians through bombing and burning villages, stealing economic resources, rape and torture. Dec. 3, all S.T.A.N.D. chapters are partaking in S.T.A.N.D. Fast, where anyone can take action by asking peers, family, and communities to give up a luxury item for one day. In return, the money used on that item will go to support the civilian protection projects. UNCW's S.T.A.N.D. chapter will also be sending postcards to the President Elect Obama, again reminding him of taking action in Darfur. Their goal is to have at least 1,000 postcards waiting for Obama his first day in office.
Over the span of three days, members of S.T.A.N.D. participated in workshops such as "Lobbying 101" and "Advocacy Savvy," taught by fellow students, panels of specialists, and discussed the genocide of not only Darfur, Sudan, but also branching out to the systematic destruction of the Congo and Burma. Keynote speakers such as journalist Roy Gutman, former U.S. State Department special representative Roger Winter, and Executive Director and Co-Founder of the U.S. Campaign for Burma Aung Din were present.
Josh Groll, UNCW's Chapter President and National Burma Coordinator relates on the experience in Washington, D.C, "The conference was wonderful because it gave the new students [in S.T.A.N.D.] an opportunity to learn how to actually advocate and educate others at the same time."
Early S.T.A.N.D. arrivers marched in the Transition Rally that kicked off at 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7 on the intersection of 17th Street and Constitution Avenue. The intention of the rally was to ensure the President-Elect Obama fulfill his promise to do everything in his power to bring the genocide in Darfur to an end. It was also meant to remind him to put Darfur as one of his top priorities during the first 100 days of his term.
Since 2003, the government of Sudan and Janjaweed (militias on horseback) has killed approximately 300,000 people and displaced more than 2.5 million in Darfur. The Janjaweed also destroy the Darfurians through bombing and burning villages, stealing economic resources, rape and torture. Dec. 3, all S.T.A.N.D. chapters are partaking in S.T.A.N.D. Fast, where anyone can take action by asking peers, family, and communities to give up a luxury item for one day. In return, the money used on that item will go to support the civilian protection projects. UNCW's S.T.A.N.D. chapter will also be sending postcards to the President Elect Obama, again reminding him of taking action in Darfur. Their goal is to have at least 1,000 postcards waiting for Obama his first day in office.
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