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Taking A Stand On Darfur

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By SARAH ROTHWELL, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 17, 2007

USF CAMPUS - 'Save Darfur.'

The message is everywhere: online, on television and in newspapers.

Since 2003, an estimated 450,000 people have died as a result of the conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan. The conflict began after rebel liberation groups mounted an insurgency against the Sudanese government. The government responded with brutality. Refugees face starvation, homelessness and sickness.

Messengers, ranging from President George W. Bush to actor George Clooney, speak out against the genocide, urging people to listen. Act now, they say.

About 7,000 miles away from Darfur, University of South Florida student Ashley Showalter heard the message. In fall 2006, she helped start a chapter of STAND: A Student Anti-Genocide Coalition.

'I refused to sit by and watch what is going on,' she said. 'I wanted to be a part of the movement to stop it.'

STAND, formerly known as Students Taking Action Now: Darfur, works to spread awareness about Darfur and to make a change. There are more than 600 high school and college chapters nationwide. There are 20 members at USF.

USF members push for legislation related to the conflict and work with local refugee agencies. They pass out information on campus. Once, they held a silent protest.

'We lay down next to a busy classroom building and held up signs,' said chapter Vice President Jen Drenth. 'The more people that know about what's going on, the more people will do something about it.'

STAND has raised awareness on and off campus. In late September, it conducted a call-in to the offices of U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Florida, to ask him to help pass the Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act. It passed in the House of Representatives and is awaiting action in the Senate.

On campus, STAND members seek new members and donations. On Oct. 3, the USF theater department partnered with STAND for the group's first major fundraiser. Students and the public were invited to a benefit performance of the 'Rocky Horror Show.' STAND raised $443 in donations.

'Every little thing we do makes all the difference,' said member Sandra Almeida.

STAND members receive positive and negative feedback for their efforts. One night after a meeting, Almeida's roommates ridiculed her for wearing a T-shirt reading 'End Genocide.' She was shocked.

'They said, 'How are you going to stop genocide by wearing a damn T-shirt?' ' Almeida said. 'I told them, 'It doesn't matter how small the steps are; everything counts.' '

Showalter also has defended the cause.

'People ask why I'm doing this instead of helping the soldiers in Iraq,' Showalter said. 'They ask why I want to help non-Americans. My response is, 'They're all people.' There are people dying in both regions.'

The USF Center for Civic Engagement stands behind STAND.

'There are students here on campus who have been affected by this Darfur,' said center coordinator Christy Burke. 'To have someone affected by the conflict right beside you and not know what it's about is unacceptable. It's important that students are working to raise awareness.'

STAND members meet once a week in the USF Marshall Center. They watch documentaries, plan events and listen to speakers. On Oct. 1, the speaker was Heather Kathrens from the Florida Center for Survivors of Torture.

The center provides support services to victims of torture and state-sponsored genocide. STAND is working with the organization to help local refugees. Members will act as tutors and mentors to people of all ages.

'We want to work with refugees firsthand,' Drenth said. 'We hope to tutor them and teach them English, along with other things they need to know to live here.'

Drenth hopes the outreach program will show USF students that the consequences of Darfur stretch beyond Sudan.

'Just because the conflict is in Africa doesn't mean we shouldn't do anything about it,' she said. 'We should stand up for human rights everywhere.'

Students don't need to be foreign studies majors to get involved. Drenth is a psychology major, and Almeida is a marine biology major. Both dedicate several hours a week to STAND. They also take time out of their daily schedules to read articles and books on Darfur.

'Anytime a new article comes out, I read it to stay informed,' Drenth said.

Almeida, a freshman, hopes the need for an organization such as STAND will diminish before the time she graduates.

'Hopefully the club won't have to continue, but while there's a need I want to stay involved,' she said. 'When I first got involved, not many people knew about Darfur. Now, on campus, I hear more and more people are aware of it. That's because of STAND.'

Students interested in learning more about STAND can visit www.ctr.usf.edu/stand/.

Sarah Rothwell can be reached at (813) 865-4845 or srothwell @tampatrib.com.

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