Congressman encourages teens to speak on Darfur
BY ERIN STATTEL
Correspondent

COLTS NECK - U.S. Congressman Chris Smith (R-N.J.) gave a presentation on the genocide in Darfur to students at Colts Neck High School on June 1. Smith had been invited to the school by senior Christina Assuncao, who was a recent recipient of the bronze and silver medals of the Congressional Award in Washing-ton, D.C.

Assuncao met Smith at the awards ceremony held in the nation's capital and began talking with the congressman about human rights issues and the genocide in Darfur.

"The pictures of the people in Darfur really reached out to me," said Assuncao, 17, of the photos on the walls of Smith's Washington, D.C., office. "I was so moved by them."

Darfur is a region of the nation of the Sudan in Africa that is currently embroiled in an internal political conflict between the government and rebel groups seeking political equality. The situation can become confusing since the government is not directly linked to the militias that are committing the rapes, murders and burning of villages in Darfur. However, the militias are widely believed to be government sanctioned.

"The crisis in Darfur is a problem for all of the international community," Smith said. "We are all our brothers' and sisters' keepers and this is a big human rights violation."

Assuncao decided to take action and invited Smith to give a presentation to her peers.

"I saw the women in Congressman Smith's photos and thought that we really need to tell everyone about these people and their stories," Assuncao explained.

To Colts Neck Principal Chris Steffner, this call to action comes as no surprise.

"Christina is a very active student and deserves all of these accolades," Steffner said. "The students here are awesome."

Steffner went on to explain that Colts Neck students are very active in their Habitat for Humanity club and even ventured down south to lend a hand to victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Assuncao is a dedicated student and community volunteer member. In order to achieve the silver and bronze medals of the Congressional Award, Assuncao completed requirements such as voluntary public service, personal development, physical fitness and expedition, in which she camped out in secluded cabins as part of the Anytown Project, which seeks to build leaders and encourage diversity.

The Sudan has become an important cause adopted by Colts Neck students.

"We've tried to make it more of an important issue for students," said Merry Cohen, 17, a junior who met Assuncao through the Anytown Project. "We showed the movie 'Hotel Rwanda' and hosted discussions surrounding the conflicts in Africa."

Assuncao and Cohen mentioned other clubs in school that they were involved with, including Students for A Progressive Peaceful America. The group sold T-shirts with "Save Darfur" printed on them and is currently working to organize an event through which students will raise money to send to relief efforts in Darfur.

"I don't think any problem is too far away," said Cohen of the correlation between proximity and student interest.

The sentiment was shared as evidenced by the abundance of questions following Smith's presentation at the high school. Students were eager to learn the details of the conflict within the Sudan, as well as Smith's comments on human trafficking and censorship in China.

"This just goes to show how their thinking has become so universal as opposed to provincial," said Monmouth County Freeholder and former Colts Neck Mayor Lillian Burry of the students' interest in world affairs. "I think it's wonderful."

Smith referenced movies such as "Tears of the Sun" to illustrate the situation to the students and urged them to take an interest and get involved.

"Write your congressman, hold forums and attend rallies," he encouraged. "These are not lost on lawmakers who may otherwise be indifferent."