Spring Break
Anti-genocide group hosts national conference
Issue date: 2/14/08
Anti-genocide activists hope to spur the administration to action over the weekend at a regional conference held on the Homewood campus.
The conference was one of six sponsored by Students Taking Action Now: Darfur (STAND) throughout the year in an effort to gather high school and college students who actively pursue anti-genocide activism, awareness education and divestment policies.
"We're hoping that this conference is going to galvanize the student body and the administration," said Aaron Martel, director of the JHU STAND divestment campaign.
The University and STAND have clashed over the issue of divestment campaign. According to STAND, its divestment campaign has resulted in over 50 universities divesting. Despite the lobbying of STAND, Hopkins has not created a formal divestment policy.
"This is a well-intentioned institution, but there are a small number of people who are willing to protect the endowment and just the endowment," Martel said.
According to JHU STAND President Patrice Hutton, Hopkins administrators do not pay much attention to STAND and have refused multiple times to yield on the issue of divestment.
She considered the conference a "point of leverage" that would help push the school to think about its policies.
"I'd say it's great that [the conference attendees] had the opportunity to network with other students who have the same interests that they do," said Executive Director of Communications and Public Affairs Dennis O'Shea.
STAND feels that calling for divestment is a key tool for pressuring universities and states alike, and many have begun to respond.
"I have asked senior administrators at George Washington University to look into the question of socially responsible global investment and to explore the development of a policy that would follow best practices in working with the investment managers of global funds regarding environmental, social, and governance issues," said GW President and former Hopkins Provost Steven Knapp.
The conference was one of six sponsored by Students Taking Action Now: Darfur (STAND) throughout the year in an effort to gather high school and college students who actively pursue anti-genocide activism, awareness education and divestment policies.
"We're hoping that this conference is going to galvanize the student body and the administration," said Aaron Martel, director of the JHU STAND divestment campaign.
The University and STAND have clashed over the issue of divestment campaign. According to STAND, its divestment campaign has resulted in over 50 universities divesting. Despite the lobbying of STAND, Hopkins has not created a formal divestment policy.
"This is a well-intentioned institution, but there are a small number of people who are willing to protect the endowment and just the endowment," Martel said.
According to JHU STAND President Patrice Hutton, Hopkins administrators do not pay much attention to STAND and have refused multiple times to yield on the issue of divestment.
She considered the conference a "point of leverage" that would help push the school to think about its policies.
"I'd say it's great that [the conference attendees] had the opportunity to network with other students who have the same interests that they do," said Executive Director of Communications and Public Affairs Dennis O'Shea.
STAND feels that calling for divestment is a key tool for pressuring universities and states alike, and many have begun to respond.
"I have asked senior administrators at George Washington University to look into the question of socially responsible global investment and to explore the development of a policy that would follow best practices in working with the investment managers of global funds regarding environmental, social, and governance issues," said GW President and former Hopkins Provost Steven Knapp.
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