As college students, we often find ourselves easily caught up in our everyday studies, our need to find internships or jobs, and our need to find time for ourselves. At the same time, however, we may feel like we are not doing enough, that we are not engaged with the larger community, the globe. One of the ways to communicate with the global society is through social activism. In fact, student activists tend to make the most noise and draw attention to influence Congress, the White House, the State Department, and media, allowing for domestic change, which in turn changes the rest of the world. Of many student-led national organizations that aim for social change, one that is able to utilize students across the nation to influence Congress is STAND: A Student Anti-Genocide Coalition.
STAND is a student-led division of the Genocide Intervention Network, which envisions a world in which the international community protects innocent civilians from genocidal violence. Because STAND believes that leaders need to be held accountable in order for genocide to end, STAND chapters across the nation organize and educate their peers and communities about genocide, advocate their elected for substantial legislative action, and fundraise for civilian protection (read more). Although STAND was born out of the fight to stop the genocide in Darfur, Sudan, STAND and its supporters are devoted to fighting actively genocide wherever it may occur. Therefore, although large portions of advocacy work are devoted to stopping genocide in Darfur, STAND chapters across the nation are also focusing on civilian conflicts that are occurring in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burma (Myanmar).
As an active group of students who are passionate about ending genocide, the George Washington University’s STAND chapter educated its campus community, fundraised for STAND, and lobbied members of Congress the past academic year. In order to get attention from fellow busy college students, GW STAND made it its goal to be known around campus by hosting large events such as YouTube video lobbying days, Dodgeball Tournaments, Café Jam Night for Darfur, and movie screenings and small events such as regular tabling on campus s and classroom teach-ins. In addition to fundraising and educating on campus, the STAND chapter decided to take advantage of its location in the heart of D.C. to lobby members of Congress on the hill. After obtaining students’ voting addresses, the GW STAND’s advocacy coordinator contacted members of Congress to set up lobby times for students. Then, the students were trained on effective lobbying skills during regular club meeting dates. At that time, the national STAND organization was advocating for a special envoy to Darfur, so GW STAND focused on that issue and asked for a special envoy to Darfur. And a few weeks after the GW STAND lobby day, we found out that a special envoy to Darfur was appointed. It was a great success for all Darfur advocates across the nation.
Despite the successes, GW STAND felt like more could be achieved if it did not stand alone; therefore, GW STAND began to reach out to other STAND chapters in the Washington, D.C. area and began holding consistent meetings with the leaders of STAND chapters in the region to begin building solidarity among the groups to host larger events such as rallies in the area. For GW STAND, other STAND chapters in the D.C. region, and all other chapters across the nation, a new school year is beginning where all will face challenges and obtain victories. However, through coalition building and persistence and with passion for a cause such as STAND, students can make an impact locally and globally and create change. So I encourage you to make your life more meaningful and impactful by taking up a cause such as fighting against genocide and joining a student movement like STAND and encourage others to do the same as well.
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