An eight-year genocide that has affected the lives of millions is the topic a Muncie community member is passionate about.
This month's Brown Bag Discussion, which will revolve around Sudan, is hosted by The Center for Peace and Conflict Studies and will be from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. today.
Muncie community member Steve Robert will lead a presentation about the Darfur genocide that has affected the Sudanese people and their land since 2004.
Tacianna Oliver, a graduate assistant, is in charge of putting together the discussion series each month.
Oliver said the discussion will help people understand what goes on in the event of genocide.
Robert has been raising awareness for a year and said he became interested after he saw the documentary "The Devil Came on Horseback," which documented the eight-year genocide that has led to the killing and displacing millions of innocent people.
Robert said he hopes to bring awareness to those who have never heard of Sudan or the Darfur genocide and to get them to realize that there is legislation that can lead to the end of this waging warfare on the Sudanese people.
In 2004, the Sudanese government launched an attack on the Darfuri, forcing them to flee their homes. Those who escaped the murder and rape of the Sudanese militia were forced into refugee camps where they have been living for nearly 10 years.
Robert said after watching the documentary, he fully immersed himself in research and prepared presentations to get the word out. He said his hope is to raise the awareness in the Muncie community so students will spread the word elsewhere.
"I want them to know where Sudan is. ... I want them to know there's 3 million people still stuck in the same refugee camps they moved into 10 years ago," Robert said. "I want them to know that simple prejudice is what has caused all this suffering."
The discussion is open to students, faculty and community members and those who attend are encouraged to bring a bag lunch for the presentation. Robert will show a video of life in a refugee camp and discuss with students the consequences of not contacting Congress about this pressing dilemma.
"I want them to consider calling their congressman and doing something about it," Robert said. "I want to build a little community here in Muncie that is behind these kind of issues."
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