A Call for Action in the Global Community

Hayley Alaniz, Staff Reporter

Hayley_Alaniz@csumb.edu

April 7, 2008

The CSU Monterey Bay (CSUMB) University Center Ballroom was filled with wide-eyed students and faculty on March 10 to hear the first-hand story of a “Lost Boy,” Benjamin Ajak and Africa activist, Dr. Ashis Brahma. The new club on CSUMB’s campus, Students for Global Awareness (SGA), and the Carmel Red Cross chapter sponsored the presentation that introduced all those who attended to the conflicts that have continued into present in Sudan.

Ajak, a member of the Lost Boys of Sudan, told his story of the tragedies and realities he experienced in his life and the 1,000 mile trek he and the other Lost Boys escaped in order to survive in 1987. Dr. Brahma continued the lecture with a PowerPoint of the history of Africa’s tribes and the conflicts they continue to face today, especially in Darfur.

Ashley Dusenbury, senior, Global Studies (GS) major, and one of the founders of the SGA, stated that through the connections with the local United Nations Association (UNA) these two speakers came to CSUMB representing an “issue that is still very current and is of importance for students to be aware of.” 

Whitney Popp, senior, GS major, and an officer of the SGA expressed that she hopes these lectures were able to influence students to take action. Popp continued that Ajak and Brahma did their part by telling their story, but it is left up to others to become a part of the global community. 

The hour and a half lecture consisted of a segment about the Lost Boys from “60 Minutes,” Ajak’s life story and Brahma’s tale of his time and knowledge of Africa. The “60 Minutes” segment made the crowd laugh showing select Lost Boys coming to America and learning the commonalities of American life which included the use of a vaccuum and stove. 

The students and faculty were then introduced to Ajak who gave the crowd an inside look into his difficult younger life that made him learn to bury a dead body at the young age of eight. 

While Dr. Brahma’s conclusion was rushed for time, his historical PowerPoint left the audience with words of encouragement explaining how Americans can take action regarding the current situations in Africa.

Senior, Global Studies GS major, and officer of SGA, Jon White, said that with the lectures of Ajak and Brahma, they were able to instill the knowledge of the complex conflict in Sudan to the students of CSUMB.

The next speaker to be sponsored by the SGA will be Jane Olson, Chair of the International Board of Human Rights Watch and of Landmine Survivors Network, on April 14 at 4 p.m. in the University Center Living Room.