Sitting on a blanket next to a large "Call to Your Conscience: Save Darfur" banner, College sophomore Elliot Gordon relaxed yesterday with some friends on College Green.
"It's nice just hanging out," he said, sprawled out on the grass. "It's more than just yelling at people on the walk, and a surprisingly large number of people [walk by and] drop a dollar."
Gordon, along with over 75 students, is participating in a 36-hour sit-in event to protest the three-year-old genocide taking place in the Darfur region of Sudan.
Students clad in green, the official color of Darfur awareness, shouted along Locust Walk yesterday at passersby to help raise money and spread awareness about the situation.
The demonstration, which began yesterday at 9 a.m. and will continue through 9 tonight, is a more interactive and relaxed one, featuring performances by student performing arts groups - including Hype, the Inspiration and the Penn gospel choir - and activities like T-shirt tie-dyeing and cookie eating.
With more than 3.5 million people in the Darfur region of Sudan are completely reliant on international aid for survival, student leaders say they've felt compelled to help out.
"We feel really invested in educating the Penn community about this issue," said College senior Ezra Billinkoff, who was involved in organizing the event, a result of only two weeks worth of planning.
"We're also motivated to . bring money to those desperately in need," he said.
Student groups involved in the effort include Hillel, Sphinx Senior Society, Alliance and Understanding, STAND, Tzedek and the Darfur Action Planning Committee.
Even University administrators, including President Amy Gutmann and Provost Ronald Daniels, are pledging their support.
All funds from the event will benefit the International Rescue Committee, a global organization that provides on-the-ground emergency relief.
According to the IRC Web site, 90 cents of each dollar it collects go directly to benefit refugees and war-affected areas.
Due to inclement weather conditions last night, the planned vigil was cancelled, but students still camped outside throughout the night to show their dedication to the cause.
"We're enthusiastic and hard core," College senior and former chairwoman of the United Minorities Council Shakirah Simley said. "It may be raining here, but people there are suffering greater atrocities."
Many participants mentioned that while Darfur has become a recognizable name, there has not been enough action or strong voicing from Penn students.
"Redundancy leads to retention," Billinkoff added. "We're trying to get the word 'Darfur' out to students and hopefully that will make a difference."
College sophomore and sit-in participant Jen Tintenfass agreed, saying that "it's great that a community of undergraduates can express interest in world issues."
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