Recent CU divestments in Sudan companies presented the Sudan genocide as a topic students should become familiar with. On Dec. 7, the CU Sociology Club helped students learn more about the issues through a 30-minute video followed by an in-depth discussion of the issue.
The movie shown at the presentation, “Darfur: A 21st Century Genocide,” is created by www.savedarfur.com.
Scott Wisor, from the Sudan Divestment Task Force, said CU has pulled out of Darfur companies as of two days ago. If Sudan is pressured economically, it will have a reason to be a part of the political peace process.
Wisor also said that it is important to contact state officials by writing letters and calling them.
“An advocate that is informed is most important,” Wisor said.
Andrew Han, a sophomore business major and president for Let Your Voice Be Heard, a CU group dedicated to Darfur, also spoke. The group will be holding a conference about Darfur Jan. 26-28. There will be speakers and workshops discussing the Darfur problem.
“I think with the conference coming up we are hoping to get more momentum. We wanted to hold the (Darfur presentation) before the conference and before the semester ends,” said Amber Camus, a junior psychology and women’s studies major. “We are hoping to instill activism and to encourage people to help and intervene.”
Han’s face grew solemn when he said that 450,000 people have died so far, and 6 million need humanitarian aid. He also said 80 infants die each day because of violence, and this is a conservative estimate.
Dr. Reiland Rabaka, a CU ethnic studies professor, graced the stage with dreadlocks that reached his mid-calf. As he spoke, it became clear that he had a passion for the subject. He then later transitioned into Bob Marley’s song, “Get Up, Stand Up.”
“Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights! Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights! Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights! Get up, stand up: don’t give up the fight,” sang Marley’s lyrics.
He emphasized we are the ones that need to make the change, and as Marley states, “you can fool some people sometimes, but you can’t fool all the people all the time.”
“We must commit on a moral and political level. We should not become desensitized,” Rabaka said. “Education should be about social transformation.”
Rabaka then said that a lot of people felt like the 1960s and 1970s were the time for change because of civil rights and feminist movements, but he explained to the audience that today should be our golden days of change because of all the resources we possess.
“If we put enough pressure on people of power, we can change the power structure,” Rabaka said. “Whatever you would have done for the Holocaust, do today for Sudan.”
Dr. Janet Jacobs, a CU sociology professor, explained that Boulder has taken steps to bring boys, girls and women to a safe haven in Boulder. It has been a year and half and Boulder was promised 20 girl refugees, but today we only have six.
“The first thing you have to do is admit you have a problem and fix it,” said Seth Schy, a junior environmental studies and sociology major. “This is the first and extremely important step. Maybe we can make some steps towards some sort of change.”
