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I have recently had a few conversations with friends about what advocacy is and what its importance is. I find myself beginning these conversations because often times I hear the term ‘protest’ laden with negative connotations. It is quite disheartening because advocacy is in fact education, action, and the opportunity for dialogue about serious topics. I used to think of advocacy as speaking up for those whose voice is not heard. Now I have refined my definition to stress listening to the voices of the silenced, learning what it is that they know they need, and standing by in solidarity, marching together in protest and in hope, thinking and innovating new solutions to issues and problems that plague us. Advocacy is service to one another in the most active and honest form because not only do we serve one another but in working side by side we connect with one another. Doing so makes it impossible to walk away feeling good that you helped without understanding that the struggle continues and knowing there are many people working together to make it all better. Just thoughts of mine lately that I thought I should add to the blog 
peace, love, and hope : Sara
Women’s Rights are Human Rights Week starts tomorrow! Stop by the HUB in the Union Building tomorrow for more information on the events of this week!
Be sure to purchase your Vagina Monologue ticket in advance! Only $5. All proceeds to go to www.vday.org and the Putnam County Family Support Services. View the Vagina Monologues publicity poster here > Vagina Monologues DePauw University
I would also encourage you to check out Amnesty International USA’s International Violence Against Women PhotoBook -click here.- Each of these women has a powerful story to share. Please take action on behalf of them by supporting the International Violence Against Women Act by visiting this website.
Hope to see you all out at our events!
All the best,
Haley ‘08
Hi all! My name is Sara Doody. I am a senior Conflict Studies major and this is my third year as an intern for the Compton Center for Peace and Justice. I have to start out this entry by telling you all what a phenomenal group of men and women work for the Compton Center. Since I am on my way out I feel like it is somewhat of my duty to brag about all the amazing things the interns do, since they certainly will not! The issues we tackle encompass human rights, social justice, and critical thinking and sensitivity with regards to our place in the world and the action necessary to change and progress beyond the world’s current state of multiple conflicts. Please do not hesitate to comment to this blog and contact any of the interns. We would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions as well as make connections with other students and advocates!
In the Fall of 2006 I decided to begin a campaign to educate students and begin, what I hoped would become, a campus-wide dialogue about the current war in Iraq. I feel that this country may care dearly about its soldiers, but has chosen not to critically assess our occupation in Iraq and actively speak out agains the War, to bring our soldier’s home and end the killing of innocent Iraquis, who were never responsible for 9/11 in the first place, nor ever had any WMDs.
Along with fellow intern, Jess Holmes, we created a visual campaign that stood in DePauw’s Academic Quad for 3 days. There were three visuals: pictures of “What we See” in the media (concerning the war), pictures of “What we Don’t See” (mostly of dead Iraquis and wounded soldiers/citizens), and a board informing the student body that we are accountable for these things as well as space left for their comments. It was a successful forum and something that was given enough time to hopefully affect people.
Since then we have done many things, including toy soldiers dispersed around campus with the name of soldiers lost in the war written on the toy gun they held, we filled the academic quad lawn with flowers in honor of those killed by the war, and have continued our discussion boards this fall. We are currently scheduling a semester-long panel with local Iraq veterans who will come to campus to educate the student body about what is really going on and how they feel about our occupation in Iraq.
Jess and I were off-campus in the Spring of 2007 and were unable to continue our activism on campus. Luckily, however, Rebekah and Andrea picked up where we left off with some pretty stellar campaigns throughout the semester. I would like to thanks Jess and Rebekah for continuing the Anti-War campaign with me this semester. They are incredibly thoughtful and creative women, without whom, our campaign would be nothing. Thank you Jess and Rebekah (and Andrea, who graduated last semester!) for everything!
Recently I attended an anti-war march in Chicago, on October 27th that was part of a larger national and international day of solidarity protesting for the withdrawl from Iraq, safe return of our soldiers, and the end of our occupation, displacement, and killing of innocent Iraquis.
I am very lucky to be a part of the Compton Center for Peace. The resources it affords me to be an activist and advocate on DePauw’s campus and nationally is more than I could have hoped for from my undergraduate institution. However, I will say the greatest gift I have received is to have a support group of 12-15 students and staff every semester that are like-minded, think about the world and the wellbeing of its inhabitants everyday, and have given me a space for criticaly thinking, dialogue, friendship, and hope.
In the hope for a more peaceful tomorrow,
Sara
Hi all : )
My name is Sainabou and I work as an intern at the Compton Center. I am currently a junior at DePauw with a double major in Political Science and Sociology.
I have always been saddened by the numerous unequal and inhumane treatments of different groups throughout the world; but like most people, I always felt that as one voice, I would not be heard. I joined the Compton Center because I saw that past projects done by interns did have an effect on the student body – by either educating them on an issue or by making them aware of a social injustice they may not have been aware of.
As Sarah mentioned, she and I are working on a racial dialogue program entitled “Melting the (Coffee) Pot.” It is our hope that through this program, a more comfortable and conducive atmosphere will be established for racial dialogue and race relations.
Hello.
About me:My name is Sarah, and I am an intern for the Compton Center. I am originally from Indianapolis, Indiana. At DePauw, I major in Conflict Studies and French. I decided to join the Compton Center, because I see a real need on DePauw’s campus for social justice and knowledge, in addition for a desire within myself to learn and grow.
About my projects: This year, I am working with another co-intern Sainabou on a project called “Melting the (Coffee) Pot” where our motto is melting the barrier, one pot at the time. We have decided to explore different facets of the racial dialogue in conversations open to all. Thus far, we have explored issues of white privilege and the “race card.” Stay tuned on the blog for more information about past and upcoming issues.
Greetings fellow activists!
Welcome to the new Compton Center blog!
My fellow interns and I decided that we needed a new way of reaching out into the greater community concerning issues of peace and social justice. Alas, we have become the newest members of the blogging community.
Ultimately we hope that this blog will provide a free, open, and honest forum concerning issues of campus, local, national, and global social justice. We’ll be featuring editorials, news, recent developments, information and updates on our projects, details on campus and local events, and much more.
We hope you’ll be a loyal reader, share the blog with a friend or two, and participate actively in this dialogue.
In the end, we hope to encourage you to think critically and act justly.
peace,
Haley
