Students stretched out near the Bizzell Statue on Wednesday, holding black signs but remaining silent as they laid on the ground in a display designed to symbolize victims of genocide in Darfur.
Students for Action in Darfur coordinated the demonstration, called the Vote for Darfur Die-In, in an effort to educate students about the genocide with a visual representation of the death and suffering in the western part of Sudan.
University College freshman Drea Segura said the demonstration caught her attention.
“It was kind of shocking and disturbing, but I’ve never seen anyone do something like this before,” she said. “This really just reaches out and grabs you.”
Students for Action in Darfur leaders wanted to inform students about the genocide and encourage them to vote in Tuesday’s presidential election, said Casey Prammanasudh, psychology senior and Students for Action in Darfur member.
“We’re trying to get the word out because it’s an issue we really care about,” she said.
Vietfil Do, microbiology senior and Students for Action in Darfur member, said the organization wants to make students aware of the candidates’ stances on the genocide. The group scored the presidential candidates, giving them a letter grade based on their support of past Darfur legislation.
“Right now, [Barack] Obama has an A-plus based on his voting record in support for Darfur,” she said. “[John] McCain has a C.”
Students seemed to react positively to the demonstration. Many ordered Darfur T-shirts and signed up for the organization’s e-mail list.
Vania Mardirossian, psychology junior, said the demonstration should have provoked students to contact government officials and urge them to support Darfur legislation.
“There are things we can do without having to use our military that would really help the people in Sudan,” she said. “If we can raise awareness about the genocide and vote for candidates who support Darfur, we can make a difference.”
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jahrabizad 3 years, 6 months ago
Genocide is bad and all but what about the problems here. Why are students not protesting or raising money for the homeless here and the children here that can't be given proper nutrition by their parents? Everyone jumps to help with the 'sexy' problem but forgets about the real problems we have here as well.