Issue date: 8/21/07 Section: Metro

Jeremy Gaither has been an activist since high school. A few years ago, when he first found out about the ongoing genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan, he felt a deep sense of obligation to do something about it.

"I find that simply having knowledge of this tremendous violation of human rights and dignity compels me to be an active part in stopping it," says Gaither, a junior at Georgia State University and chapter president of Amnesty International.

The horrible details of the genocide inspired Gaither to participate in a candle-light vigil and a teach-in, as well as a protest to raise awareness and to motivate people to take action.

The genocide in Darfur is grabbing the attention of an increasing number of college students across numerous college campuses, including those in Georgia.

The conflict in Darfur, which started in early 2003 as a confrontation between the Sudanese government and rebel groups, has already claimed an estimated 400,000 lives, and displaced 2.3 million civilians, according to Save Darfur.

The government of Sudan has responded to the uprising by arming the Janjawid militia as a paramilitary force to suppress the rebellion. As a result of this conflict, the civilians in Darfur as well as the refugees in the neighboring camps continue to remain vulnerable to rape, murder, and death.

Although college students are often perceived by many as apathetic, an overwhelming 98 percent of college students view community service as honorable, while a majority of them see it as an effective way to solve problems, according to a study conducted by the Institute of Politics at Harvard University in 2005.

"I do think student activism is on the rise, and many students' issue of choice has become stopping the genocide in Darfur, and stopping genocide completely," says Sean Redding, the communications coordinator for a student anti-genocide coalition called STAND. (Students Taking Action Now: Darfur).

Jacqueline Crowther, an urban policy major at GSU and secretary of the Amnesty International chapter, helped organize various events, collect petitions, and lobby representatives with regards to the Darfur crisis. She talks about AI's National Week of Student Action, which called for awareness-raising events in campuses and high schools throughout the country focusing on the conflict in Darfur.

As part of the week of action, Crowther and her activist friends had a refugee from Darfur speak about her experiences. They also co-sponsored a teach-in at Charis bookstore focusing on the constant struggle that women and young girls face daily in Darfur.

Continued...

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