Festival Showcases Human Rights

Aly Shea and Sarah Kopman-Fried 

Aly Shea and Sarah Kopman-Fried

Issue date: 4/16/07 Section: Focus

Amid clear blue skies and warm sunshine, the sounds of music from all parts of the world filled Fairfield Way Saturday afternoon for UConn's first Human Rights Awareness Festival. 

The festival featured music from UConn student groups as well as information provided by both student and non-student groups regarding human rights. 

One of the informational booths was sponsored by the Willimantic Food Co-op. 

"The Willimantic Food Co-op concentrates on organic and free trade groups," said Food Co-op employee Shandra Craig. "We are here today to raise awareness among UConn students about the different offering of this type available to them in the area." 

Another booth, sponsored by UConn Caring Internationally, collected donations in order to raise money for underprivileged children worldwide. 

Similarly, at the Peer Involvement booth, students raised money to help stop genocide in Darfur. 

"We're selling candy as an incentive for students to give money to help support human rights in Darfur," said Monica Daniels, a 2nd-semester psychology major. "After we collect the money, we're going to donate it to Idealists United and then they are going to get it to Darfur."  

Idealists United member Allyssa Milan, a 4th-semester sociology major, said she was, "grateful for all the support that the event has generated from other groups both on- and off-campus." 

Lauren Donnelly, a 4th-semester political science and women's studies major was working at the Bead For Life table. The group helps many HIV-positive women in Uganda start their own businesses making beads out of tightly rolled colored paper, according to literature at the table. The hand-made beads are strung together to make one-of-a-kind, fair trade necklaces, bracelets and earrings, many of which were on sale at the event. 

"It helps these women gain financial independence and support their families. Having their own businesses really lifts them out of poverty," Donnelly said.

Sharing information about Amnesty International was Kaity Lloyd, a 6th-semester art history major. 

"Amnesty's entire campaign is human rights, which is why we're here," said Lloyd. "It really means a lot for all the human rights groups on campus to have such a venue to get the word out about human rights." 

Others at the festival, including Milan, agreed. 

"This festival is allowing us to do so much," said Milan. "We're giving out information about the situation on Darfur. Amnesty International is here telling people about innocent people imprisoned worldwide. We're raising awareness about the issues of human rights and social justice. And people can come out and get all this vital information while enjoying great music with great people." 

The Human Rights Awareness Festival managed to attract a wide array of musical performances. 

UConn a cappella groups Rubyfruit and A Minor as well as performing groups including UConn's Kickline team, the Steel Drum players, the All-Stars step team and Taiko came out to support the cause. 

All the songs A Minor performed at the event had to do with human rights, including Buffalo Springfield's "For What's It's Worth" and the Beatles' "In My Life." 

"It's important for us to support other organizations on campus and to get involved in the UConn community," said Amanda Friedman, a 6th-semester English secondary education major and member of A Minor. 

Popular acts included a Grateful Dead cover band, Shakedown, and Echo Uganda, a group that plays authentic East African and Ugandan instruments. 

Also performing were Ashlee K., The Lawless Coast, Nap La Joy and Single-Speed Marathon, among others. 

The Human Rights Awareness Festival was the culmination of a week's worth of Human Rights events sponsored by many human rights groups on campus. The week's events included discussion panels, movie screenings and a sweat-free fashion show. All the events, including the festival Saturday, were designed to attract attention to the cause of human rights and to help students better know their human rights. 

"We don't want to be seen as hippies," Milan said. "Calling us hippies makes us seem as if human rights is just a concern for a few people when human rights is really everyone's concern."