NEW ANTI-GENOCIDE CLUB STAND FORMING AT NIU
By Megan Geyer
Northern Star Online
Friday, October 24, 2008
IL
After taking History of Genocide taught by J.D. Bowers, students
Shay Galto, Ryan Beebe, Megan Pitz, Emily Ericson and Brandyn Grove
decided to get involved.
They are starting an NIU chapter of the anti-genocide organization
STAND (Students Taking Action Now Darfur).
"We’re focused on activism, fundraising and educating people about
what they can do to help," STAND President Shay Galto said.
STAND is a national organization run by students in colleges, high
schools and junior highs across the U.S.
"We aren’t pressuring the government enough," Galto said, citing
that increased activism in the U.S. under President Clinton might
have stopped the genocide in Rwanda.
Each meeting will focus on a particular genocide. Vice President Ryan
Beebe presented an informative powerpoint about the Holocaust at the
club’s second meeting.
"I’m against any kind of harm to anybody," said Sandi Yandle, senior
history major, "We should try to help one another not hurt each other."
STAND plans on going to Cantigny Park in Wheaton, IL to hear Dr. John
Barrett of St. John’s University give a presentation of the Nuremburg
trials which dealt with the prosecution of several high ranking Nazi
officials of WWII.
Other events include watching the movie Dancing Through Death: The
Monkey, Magic and Madness of Cambodia and traveling in November to
the national STAND conference in Washington D.C..
"We’re excited about the interest [STAND] has generated," Treasurer
Emily Ericson said.
At the second meeting, there were eighteen people present.
Adam Zapfel, junior journalism major, explained his reason for coming
to the meeting. "My two friends came here before, and it sounded like
a good cause."
STAND’s next meeting will be held on Nov. 11, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. in
DuSable room 302. There will be a presentation of the Armenian Genocide
and a viewing of the genocide documentary film Screamers.
Although STAND is not yet acknowledged as an official NIU organization
by the Student Association, they are actively pursuing recognition.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
