By Michaiah Varnes//
A new club on campus, Students for Justice in Palestine, is attempting to promote human rights while confronting student apathy and administrative roadblocks.
The club organizes events to educate students about current events in Palestine and the history of colonization in the Middle East.
The club has 40 members and meets every other week but due to communication issues and the lack of resources within the school, the attendance recently has been low, Robin Draetta, the club’s president said.
Either students do not know about the club or too busy to particpate.
“Afraid to engage in activism because of the currect political environment. Because of this lack of engagment we have not been able to have as many events as we would like,” Robin Draetta, the club’s president said.
Students for Justice in Palestine began as a place where students could to talk about their feelings regarding the genocide in Palestine. The club’s main goal is to aid the National Students for Justice in Palestine, a national student-led organization.
“We saw a need for resources, education, connection, and so decided to found our chapter of SJP to provide in our community,” Draetta said.
One of the biggest challenges the club has faced during the semester is the lack of student engagement. Adding to the difficulties is that the administration has failed to approve of club events in time to generate publicity.
Given the change in democray, students may pose risks by joining this club; for example a foreign student on a United States visa was abducted.
“I think, unfortunately, it is in the current environment to speak out and organize against oppression. Even though it should never be,” Draetta said.
The club meetings feature readings of Palestinian poetry, and arts and crafts to help members bond with one another.
Be the first to comment