The Chronicle

Issue date: 4/20/07 Section: News
Last update: 4/20/07 at 9:01 AM EST

A number of Duke student groups gather on the plaza Thursday afternoon to raise awareness on campus of the genocide crisis in Darfur.

Students on their way to the Bryan Center yesterday heard something different from the usual shouts of tablers and music from boom boxes, as speakers on the West Campus Plaza read monologues from Darfur for passers-by.

As a part of Student Action Day for Darfur-a campaign organized by the Duke Darfur Coalition to encourage student activism-students and professors read testimonials written by those involved with the genocide crisis.

"The point is to bring Darfur to Duke," said senior Chloe Chien, who organized the event. "I know people have been very upset about the [Virginia Tech] shootings because it's so close to home. I hope that people will find it equally unacceptable for senseless killings many, many miles away."

The coalition consists of 11 student groups, who came together to plan the event, which also included tables where students signed petitions and wrote letters to representatives and senators about Darfur.

"We have a petition for a Senate bill to allow state and local governments to divest from Sudan," said sophomore Lindsay Adkin. Students from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will bring the petition to Sen. Elizabeth Dole.

Originally, students had planned to stage a "die-in," where participants would lie on the quad to symbolize those who have died in Darfur.

They had decided instead to display T-shirts featuring victims' names, ages and other personal information, but in light of recent events at Virginia Tech, decided it would not be appropriate.

"This day is not so much about raising awareness as about empowering ourselves," Chien said. "It's about taking action."

This is the first year that Duke has held Student Action Day, though there have been other events about Darfur on campus in the past. Many schools across the country also held similar events yesterday.

"When it comes to activism on Darfur, Duke is actually behind the curve," sophomore James Tager said, comparing Duke to other colleges and universities. "The desire's there, it just hasn't been utilized yet."

Chien said she did not think Duke students were apathetic, but sometimes they needed a spark.

"I think that people do care," she said. "A lot of people are dropping by and taking action, or even just pausing and listening to the monologues."

Catherine Workman, a third-year graduate student in biological anthropology and anatomy and a member of the Human Rights Working Group, chose to read several monologues on the plaza.

"It's really easy to feel detached," Workman said. "I think that hearing people's words... resonates a lot more strongly than does just reading things. Words are powerful."

Members said the Duke Darfur Coalition hopes to be a continued presence on campus and is also looking to collaborate with other North Carolina schools in creating Triangle or state-wide events.

"I hope that social justice will be a priority for students because we have been so privileged," Chien said. "The purpose of great education is to give back."

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