So not exactly according to plan.
However, once we actually started, things took a turnaround. As we didn't have a survivor from the Nazi holocaust to come in person, I played a testimony instead from a man called Solly Irving, a survivor of Auschwitz who told his moving and interesting personal story. Then Eugine, a man who had survived the Rwandan genocide in the 1990s spoke about what had happened there when discrimination and bigotry took over. A few students asked him questions, and the last question was "what is the main lesson you learnt from the horrific situation?" and he answered "people are taught to be kind and to help and to care forever, it takes a lifetime to teach love. But it takes ten minutes to teach hate".
In between, a few students read different poems and readings about racism, discrimination, hatred, apathy and hope, all of which were touching and telling in different ways.
To finish the event I spoke briefly about moving forward and changing our world, we then lit candles and had a minutes silence in commemoration of all those who have lost their lives to the holocaust and other genocides.
Recently there have been more and more students coming to talk to me about racism and fascism which they feel is present on campus and around in different forms, as well as students worried about the BNP gaining council seats and even parliamentary seats in the upcoming months. Anyone who has fears or queries should feel free to come and talk. I will do everything I do to support and help any student in this position. I also encourage everyone to do as much as they can to stunt the BNPs success in the upcoming elections, and just generally as a presence in our society.
Last week, I went to the BEMA (Birmingham ethnic minorities association) forum, in which many things were discussed; including representation, gaps between ethnic minority students and white students in degree attainment, graduate jobs and guild society involvement and why these gaps still exist. It was really interesting to hear so many students opinions on these matters and would love to continue the conversation to shed light on how to change the situation.
GUILD OFFICER TEAM NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN!!! If you are interested in running for ARAF and would like more information/advice please email me at a.lawton@guild.bham.ac.uk. It is an amazing job and there is loads to be done (sadly)!
Sorry for the length of this message, but there are loads of things I didn't even mention... There is just to much to talk about!
