Organization holds die-in at Speakers Circle

Stand Mizzou raises awareness about Darfur conflict.

By Amanda Wysocki and Kiki Schmitz

Published April 23, 2009

Amid the religious activists and environmental groups at Speaker's Circle Wednesday afternoon, several students laid down holding signs to raise awareness about the ongoing conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan.

Throughout the day, about fifteen students participated in the die-in sponsored by Stand Mizzou.

"The people represented those that are killed in the ongoing conflict in Darfur and bring attention to the fact that it is still going on," Stand Mizzou President Nabihah Maqbool said.

Stand Mizzou Advocacy Chairwoman Alicia Ludden said they felt the die-in was a different form of protest that might get more attention.

"We felt like it was a unique way to represent what is going on in Sudan and draw people's attention instead of something more common where people might just walk by," Ludden said.

There will also be a concert at 9 p.m. today at the Cherry Street Artisan to raise money for Darfur, Maqbool said. Admission is free, but there is a suggested $3 donation. Jazz group Glass Cannon and English-Spanish pop singer Javier Mendoza will perform.

Maqbool first got involved in Stand Mizzou after the former organization president visited her class one day.

"I knew about the situation in Darfur from high school debate," Maqbool said. "This was an opportunity for me to stop talking about it and finally do something."

Ludden said the conflict could be more easily resolved if people would contribute to the cause of organizations such as Stand Mizzou.

"America really does have a lot of influence if only we would demand change it can happen," Ludden said. "Even something as simple as e-mailing or calling elected officials can make a difference."

Ludden said it is such a large-scale tragedy that she wanted to get involved and try to help things.

"Everyone knows about the Holocaust and was so appalled by it," Ludden said. "We say never again, but it is happening again in Darfur and it happened in Rwanda. I just don't think I can stand by and do nothing."

The organization strives to raise awareness not only about the situation in Darfur, but also about conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burma.

"It's really important that we get people involved at our young ages to do something," Maqbool said. "We have a really unique opportunity on campus to explore whether or not the university is getting money from companies benefiting from the conflict. We have the ability to divest and try to stop the conflict."

On Thursday, Holocaust survivor Rachel Miller spoke to students and guests at the Hillel center. Miller told her story how, at the age of nine, she resorted to an alias, spening days hiding in a cellar and living in a convent for more than a year to avoid capture.

"I tell my story because there are a lot of people that don't think the Holocaust happened," she said "We are all getting older and passing on, and I don't know how many years we have left to tell our stories. I do it because I owe it to my family. I survived and I want to keep them alive by telling my story. I'm still here."