The thirteenth annual diversity conference will focus on genocide

This year’s student-led Building Bridges Conference will be held this Saturday, March 8. The thirteenth annual conference will focus on genocide, and the keynote speaker will be Paul Rusesabagina, the man portrayed by actor Don Cheadle in Hotel Rwanda. Rusesabigina saved many from violence during the genocide there.

Genocide is an issue that Americans are hearing more about. Many perceive genocide as a thing of the past, but the conference is meant to remind everyone that it is not an issue of history—but a current event—and to suggest ways for students to take action.

Rusesabagina will deliver a speech in the Chapel and other events will occur throughout the day. The student organizers of the event, Junior Asitha Jayawardena and Senior Jing Han Soh, started formulating ideas last spring. Over the summer they talked to everyone from grant organizations and officials at the U.N. to representatives of Oprah to get all facets of the conference ready.

“The work basically started at the end of last year’s Building Bridges Conference. Jing and I decided with [Senior Fatima-Zahra Elattir] and [Diversity Center Director Virgil Jones] what we wanted the topic to be and went from there,” said Jayawardena.

“We started last spring. We spent the summer looking for grants. Then we came back and started recruiting people, fund raising, going to departments, asking for support and donations and contributions. It was one long, year-long process,” said Soh.

“Historically, [Building Bridges] has always had a connection with the Diversity Center, with students putting it together. It’s always resided here as a collaborative effort with students, staff and faculty departments. Financially, we do get some support from staff and faculty departments, but we are constantly trying to find permanent funding; level of support varies from year to year, varying on department chair, topic and support in Student Senate,” Jones said.

Choosing Rusesabagina to speak was an easy decision for the organizers. “Building Bridges is diversity related, but also emphasizes taking action on it. To take a speaker with Paul’s caliber and expertise in taking action against genocide…he was perfect for the conference,” said Jayawardena.

In addition to Rusesabagina’s address, there will be other events throughout the day. “[It’s] a very complete conference, in my opinion. The last piece of our conference is a Kids Against Hunger event. The Building Bridges Conference worked out a route from St. Peter to Darfur. We provide an opportunity for Gustavus to come together and make a difference to people far away. The committee is working hard to raise money—but we can send as much food as we can package,” said Jayawardena.

“On Friday night there is the Gustavus Idol competition in the Caf at 7 p.m., I Am We Are is putting on a special show before Paul and there are workshops and sessions following lunch, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. It’s going to be fun,” said Soh.

“[The conference] proves that students can make a difference, specifically in raising student awareness on genocide,” said Jayawardena.

“The other thing I think is important to talk about [is that Building Bridges] is one of a few organizations where members of more than twelve different organizations come together for the true common good. I think that speaks to the leadership development, the coalition building that happens naturally, and people putting aside individual interest and their egos to work on a problem that affects us all in one way or another,” said Jones.

Photo Courtesy Of: MCT Campus