In the Darfur region of western Sudan, genocide is occurring. Each day, men, women and children are faced with the prospects of mass killings, torture, rape and destruction of villages and camps at the hands of the Janjaweed militias, a band of fighters backed by the Sudanese government. More than 400,000 people have lost their lives to the militia group and some 2 million more have been driven from their homes, according to officials at the United Nations. These harrowing conditions have existed since 2003 - but you can help stop this crisis from continuing. You can make a difference in the world.

Members of the community are invited to join the College of Saint Elizabeth (CSE), 2 Convent Road, Morristown, NJ, as it presents its annual Maryclaire McGuire Social Justice Day program entitled, “A Call to Action, Genocide in Darfur,” on Thursday, October 26 from noon to 1:30 p.m. in Saint Joseph Hall McGuire Lounge on the College campus. The event is free and open to the public. Attendees are asked to RSVP with the College’s Center for Volunteerism and Service-Learning by contacting, 973-290-4245 or sending an email to Paula Fernandes, director of CSE Center for Volunteerism and Service-Learning at pfernandes@cse.edu.

The colloquium, which is focused on raising awareness about the genocide in Darfur, will include a panel of speakers that will examine the complex issues that plague the region; an overview of the history of the Darfur genocide; information about the role of political and humanitarian intervention; and a highlight of steps individuals can take to help reduce suffering.

Speakers at this year’s event include:

• Bec Hamilton, Genocide Intervention Network representative, author and co-founder of the Harvard Darfur Action Group
• Joshua Bloom, Darfur field organizer for American Jewish World Service and coordinator of the Save Darfur Now: Voices to Stop Genocide Rally in NYC
• Rabiye Andican, ‘07, CSE History and International Studies major who participated in the Intern Congress in Darfur program in Washington, DC and on the 2006 international March of Remembrance and Hope trip to Poland

According to Ms. Fernandes, the program will also include opportunities for advocacy and awareness, including free informational materials, letter writing campaigns, support for relief organizations, photo display and an afternoon film screening with Leon Ratz, a NJ student area coordinator for Amnesty International.

The annual program, coordinated by CSE Volunteerism and Service-Learning, honors the life and work of the late CSE Vice President for Student Life/Dean of Students, Maryclaire McGuire.