Darfur refugee tent: an attempt to build solidarity
By Jon McDonald
In a dirty canvas tent on Kennedy Lawn students are fighting to end genocide in Darfur.
The tent is the centerpiece of "Refugee Awareness Week," a campaign organized by Santa Clarans for Social Justice and Students Taking Action Now in Darfur designed to educate students about an ongoing armed conflict in the Sudan between militants and local tribes.
The week of events involves lectures and calls for donations to various causes. However, students say that they are mainly educating through solidarity with the million Sudanese refugees: 1,000 calorie fasts and nights spent shivering outside in wadded blankets and sleeping bags.
The tent, a replica of the ones used by refugees, is the center of the week's events. Tours are offered throughout the week and night reflections and vigils are held within it.
"What's in Sudan are thousands of these tents and hundreds of thousands of refugees," sophomore Francesca McKenzie said. While the tent seems crowded with seven people inside, up to 10 people can live in the tent.
The tent is on loan to Santa Clara from Catholic Relief Services, according to Matt Smith, a campus minister and administrator of the Santa Clarans for Social Justice group.
"Compared to what they have in Darfur, it's actually pretty luxurious for a refugee tent," Smith said Tuesday.
Approximately 20 students will sleep in the tent over the course of the week. Another 20 to 30 students will fast for the entire week, taking in only 1,000 calories a day and meeting at 10 p.m. each night in the tent to reflect on their experiences.
"It's the closest you can get to the life of a refugee," said Beth Tellman, the student leader of SC4SJ. "Live how they live, eat what they eat."
A healthy diet for active people is based around a 2,000 calorie intake according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Darfur refugees are only allotted 1,000 calories per day by the United Nations.
"It's challenging," said Brigid Eckhart, a senior who has elected to fast this week. On Tuesday, she ate a bagel, a sandwich, bread with peanut butter and eggs and toast for dinner.
"You think about how many people eat less than that every day and go to bed hungry every night," Eckhart said. "That's what keeps you going."
Tellman said that she could not fully relate to the plight of Sudanese refugees.
"It's chosen, not forced upon us," she said. "That makes a big difference."
Students who are fasting can donate the money they save on food to three organizations created to feed the poor and underprivileged: Martha's Kitchen, Oxfam and Mercy Corps.
SC4SJ is accepting donations at the tent, which go directly to Human Rights Watch and Doctors Without Borders, three independent organizations involved in aiding Darfur.
Shirts, like the ones sold last year by the group, and accessories are available for purchase, and the profits will go to charity.
McKenzie said that one of the best things students can do is to be educated and make their opinions heard.
"We have the privilege and the opportunity to try and understand what's going on and make a difference," McKenzie said.
Tellman urged potential activists, "Write your senator and representative and demand United Nations intervention."
The tent will be up until Friday afternoon. Students can take tours today at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. A final tour of the tent is Friday at 10 a.m.
Contact Jon McDonald at jmcdonald@scu.edu.