2008 Woodie Awards
STAND steps up to change 'apathetic' campus
Mark Dipaola
Issue date: 2/20/08 Section: Campus News
Members of the organization QU STAND are rallying behind the upcoming lecture from renowned human rights activist John Prendergast, with hopes that the March event will reverse what they perceive to be sentiments of apathy on campus.
Author of eight books, Prendergast is a former staff member of the Clinton administration, working in both the White House and the State Department. He has been a potent voice on human rights issues in Africa, particularly the ongoing genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan.
"It's really exciting that John Prendergast is coming," sophomore english major and President of QU STAND Louis D'Agostino said.
The organization formed during last spring semester, making headlines with a rally in which 20 students were involved. Although membership has dwindled to six since then, D'Agostino said that the group does not require large numbers to be effective.
D'Agostino said that although the group has made a number of efforts to draw attention to the issue, apathy has been a significant obstacle.
In addition to the spring protest, STAND members raised $500 from "dorm storming" and protested at the United Nations in New York City last year. They also sponsored September's screening of the documentary "Invisible."
"This campus, it's too hard to change," D'Agostino said. "We're not really trying to change the attitudes on campus, but the principles. You have to start with principles and then move to attitude. It's more or less going back to the drawing board."
Raquel Barbieri, a sophomore STAND member, echoed this sentiment.
"Our goal at Quinnipiac is to get the students aware of major humanitarian issues around the world," Barbieri said via e-mail. "Our executive board feels that Quinnipiac is one of the most politically apathetic universities in the country. We believe it's time we started caring about the world outside of our QU bubble."
"We want to unify this anti-genocide movement under one message by providing students with informational, educational and organizing resources, empowering them through an extensive network of impassioned student activists and advocating for a change in the world's mentality towards genocide," Barbieri said.
Author of eight books, Prendergast is a former staff member of the Clinton administration, working in both the White House and the State Department. He has been a potent voice on human rights issues in Africa, particularly the ongoing genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan.
"It's really exciting that John Prendergast is coming," sophomore english major and President of QU STAND Louis D'Agostino said.
The organization formed during last spring semester, making headlines with a rally in which 20 students were involved. Although membership has dwindled to six since then, D'Agostino said that the group does not require large numbers to be effective.
D'Agostino said that although the group has made a number of efforts to draw attention to the issue, apathy has been a significant obstacle.
In addition to the spring protest, STAND members raised $500 from "dorm storming" and protested at the United Nations in New York City last year. They also sponsored September's screening of the documentary "Invisible."
"This campus, it's too hard to change," D'Agostino said. "We're not really trying to change the attitudes on campus, but the principles. You have to start with principles and then move to attitude. It's more or less going back to the drawing board."
Raquel Barbieri, a sophomore STAND member, echoed this sentiment.
"Our goal at Quinnipiac is to get the students aware of major humanitarian issues around the world," Barbieri said via e-mail. "Our executive board feels that Quinnipiac is one of the most politically apathetic universities in the country. We believe it's time we started caring about the world outside of our QU bubble."
"We want to unify this anti-genocide movement under one message by providing students with informational, educational and organizing resources, empowering them through an extensive network of impassioned student activists and advocating for a change in the world's mentality towards genocide," Barbieri said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
New Intifada
posted 2/21/08 @ 12:46 PM EST
Pendergast is calling for "strategic bombing" of oil, uranium, thorium, copper, and gum arabic rich Sudan so not surprising he works alongside Henry Kissinger at the "international crisis group"
John, stop attacking Sudan, please stop your racist pro war lies about Muslims, Arabs, Africans and China. (Continued…)
Danielle Robinson Briand
posted 2/21/08 @ 5:02 PM EST
The above comment is completely asinine, and only serves to deflect attention from the real issue that there is a GENOCIDE going on currently in Darfur, Sudan. (Continued…)
Anthony
posted 3/05/08 @ 5:58 PM EST
This is truly 'a pathetic' and an 'apathetic' college. Nothing will change this sad fact.
hope
posted 3/12/08 @ 11:47 AM EST
I love what STAND is doing.
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