During the panel discussion on the genocide in Darfur led by John Prendergast on Feb. 18, Felix Lohitai, a senior and one of the panel members, asked the audience what footprint each person will leave behind.

Inspired by Prendergast’s visit, several Manchester students decided to leave a footprint of action by forming the group STAND (“Students Against Genocide”).

  
A Facebook group of the same name also exists to spread greater awareness about STAND on campus. The group currently includes more than 60 members.

STAND is an international anti-genocide coalition of students, comprising of over 700 chapters in schools from all over the globe.

The purpose of STAND is to raise campus and community awareness about the atrocities being committed across the world. The coalition delivers the message that genocide, wherever it may be, will not be tolerated in the 21st century. At the heart of STAND lies the campaign to end genocide in Darfur.

  
The MC chapter of STAND aims to realize the coalition’s greater purpose by writing letters and making phone calls to representatives.

  
STAND meets every Thursday at 9 p.m. in the Muir Peace House and everybody is welcome to participate. Members write letters to their representatives, the Senate or to the White House.

  
“The letter can be simple…they don’t have to be complex,” said Zachary VanWinkle, first-year student and member of STAND.

  
Members also make calls to the anti-genocide hotline: 1-800-GENOCIDE. The number puts students in direct contact with their elected officials and provides updates on current Darfur legislation.

But can one phone call really make a difference?

  
The answer is yes. As explained by Prendergast, the phone calls are tallied up by officials and sent to the senators and the president. More tallies on an issue ensure that the president will realize the exigency of the issue; hence respond to people’s demands.

  
“I think one well written letter [or] one phone call can finally tip the score to make that representative stand up in Congress and say America is not going to support genocide,” VanWinkle said.

The fact that one phone call can make a difference underlies the immense potential of one human being.  STAND exemplifies the power of individuals to foster change.

  
Essentially a grassroots movement, STAND relies on support from the local level to produce greater change at a national and international level.

  
Through local support, STAND was able to push Congress to make ending genocide a priority and has raised thousands of dollars for humanitarian aid.

The new chapter at MC continues to build on the coalition’s bedrock of local support and helps STAND to move one step closer to achieving its ultimate goal.

  
As a peace-oriented college, MC has the potential to make significant contributions to the anti-genocide coalition.

 
“I deeply believe that most Manchester College students have a deep love for nonviolence and a love for people,” VanWinkle said. And when you get down to it, you can’t have a love for people and know that people are being murdered by the hundreds of thousands and not say anything about it,”

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