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Human Rights Fair '98
Wednesday, October 28, 1998
Breeze Article

Jeff Lupardo
SFT editorial

I am writing in opposition of a seemingly universal stereotype of the "contemporary college student". I have realized that JMU students and the majority of college students in general have received an undeserved reputation of being apathetic spectators of international and domestic crises. I am writing to demonstrate that students are capable and willing to actively express opposition to worldwide human rights injustices. JMU students have responded to issues concerning women's rights, abuses against minorities, religious persecution and freedom of speech in the form of an educational Human Rights Fair.

JMU student organizations including Amnesty International, Students for a Free Tibet, and other groups dealing with domestic and international human rights violations will meet for an educational program of social awareness. Father John Grace of the Catholic Campus Ministry, Dr. Dan Perdue of the Philosophy and Religion Department, Dr. Imani of the department of sociology and others will be speaking about a wide range of social and moral dilemmas. Movies and documentaries will also be shown to bring such persecution into a more clear perspective.

In my opinion, society has called and JMU students, organizations and faculty have collectively responded. The college students I talk to are pursuing greater social awareness and are intent on becoming the creators of international solutions to inhumane persecution. The Human Rights Fair will be held on Wednesday, October 28 at 7pm in the Highlands Room in Warren Hall. This is an open invitation to witness and to become educated about the unjust treatment of threatened groups throughout our society. Together, we as our own community can effectively reach out and continuously intervene in such unfortunate circumstances to eventually bring positive change.

J. Lupardo.

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