5:14 p.m., Oct. 3, 2007--UD's chapter of STAND, the national student anti-genocide coalition dedicated to helping victims of genocide in Darfur, was named Chapter of the Month for September.

Comprised of 60 active members, UD's chapter of STAND, organized and formed last spring by Hilary Jampel, a UD junior, was selected for the honor from among more than 600 chapters across the nation.

“This is truly an honor for the chapter,” Jampel, a political science major from Brick, N.J., said. “I was amazed and inspired when I got the news, because it encourages our efforts. So often it seems that the situation in Darfur isn't improving, and this little push is a real motivation.”

STAND, which reflects its mission with an acronym for Darfur in the words “divestment,” “advocacy,” “relay (the message),” “fundraise,” “U (have the power to make a difference),” and “remember (the people),” has, since its inception at UD, raised $500 for relief efforts and has sponsored several lectures and a candlelight vigil.

A bracelet and T-shirt sale to raise money for physicians in Darfur working for the organization Doctors Without Borders is in the works for later in the semester, Jampel said.

“I started the UD chapter of STAND last spring because I felt there was a real need to raise awareness about the Darfur region on campus,” Jampel said. “Only about 60 percent of people in the general population know about what's happening in Darfur, and that percentage is even lower among most college-age students. I felt I had a moral obligation to start a local chapter.”

Jampel began recruiting members by getting the word out through other registered student organizations on campus and by asking those with knowledge about the conflict to speak on campus. By last spring, the number of campus e-mail contacts for the UD chapter was close to 450, and a candlelight vigil held in April drew a crowd of close to 100 UD students.

“I think, especially with fundraising campaigns, that we can make a difference,” Jampel said. She added that getting the chance to speak with refugees from the Darfur region also has helped students take an active role, as has establishing a link to the region with Doctors Without Borders. “We feel that our efforts aren't just random,” she said.

The UD chapter of STAND meets every Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. in 107 Sharp Lab. Newcomers are welcome.

Article by Becca Hutchinson