On the campus of California State University in Chico, about 25 InterVarsity students demonstrated in front of Meriam Library. Their mouths taped shut, they carried signs with sayings such as, “I mourn the 2 years that the international community has ignored Sudan’s genocide.” An article in The Orion campus newspaper said that the students distributed petitions, green bracelets, and fliers with information about slaughter and starvation among refugees in the Darfur region of western Sudan, where 200,000 have died and the refugee population is estimated at two million.
At Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, InterVarsity students mobilized their chapters to back a campus-wide campaign focused on ending the genocide in Darfur. They convinced Harvard University to divest itself of $3.87 million dollars of stock in PetroChina, a Chinese oil company that has financial dealings with the Sudanese government.
“We realized that many of our friends at home did not know about the genocide in Darfur,” said Adrian Tam, one of the organizers. “Not only did we, as Christians, feel a duty to invite other Christians to act against genocide; but also, in light of the recent events surrounding the life of Terri Schiavo, we realized that Christians do care about, and would act on, these issues, so long as they are well-informed.”
They then initiated a Christian Students Against Genocide movement and assembled a 6-page packet of information that includes a sample letter that members of campus fellowships can send to their pastors, explaining why the genocide in Darfur is a critical opportunity for churches to witness God’s love, compassion, and justice. The packet also includes information that can be sent to federal and state lawmakers, urging action on relief and protection for the refugees and divesting state pension funds from Sudan-related companies. Additional information on how to make donations for humanitarian aid, and information on how to pray for the end of the genocide, is included. There is also a link to a Christianity Today editorial on the importance of stopping the genocide.
Harvard students have mailed out about 60 packets to their home churches around the country and are now distributing them to other InterVarsity chapters. Although the semester is ending and classes are wrapping up on many campuses, Adrian believes that may be a blessing in disguise. “Most e-mail lists still operate in the summer,” he said, “and if anything, with the increased time and energy, we hope that students will be even more enthusiastic to help out in whatever way possible.”
Activism is common on many campuses. Knowing when and why to get involved can be a challenge for Christian students. “It was only after getting involved with Darfur Action Group that I realized the huge difference that the Christian community could make if it got on board,” said Kristin Lee, another Harvard InterVarsity student. “Before making this packet with an incredible team of people, I shied away from political activism and didn’t see how it had anything to do with my faith. But I’ve been inspired by Adrian and the others who have shown me that this is about Christ’s love and bringing his justice to this broken world.”
“I believe this is a great opportunity not only for Christians to respond to Christ’s calling to serve ‘the least of these,’” Adrian said, “but also for Christians to witness to the world and show that our love, and therefore Christ’s love, for the weak transcends national, ethnic, and religious lines.”
Some churches are already involved through the Sudan Mercy Project.
Mission Network News reports on this story.
USA Today Darfur report
More on students, Christianity, and social activism, Jesus, Justice & Poverty.
Photo Credit: ECHO/Peter Holdsworth, courtesy http://europa.eu.int/comm/echo
