CU Boulder Speaks Up from the Mountain Tops: Conflict Free for the DRC

 by Genna Smith and Erin Musso

A year and a half ago we had a completely different relationship with our cell phones. It all changed when we learned the deadlinest conflict in the world since World War II, which claims over 45,000 lives per month, is largely fueled by these gadgets we hold so dear. We delved into researching the crisis as interns with the nonprofit organization the Safe Conflict Project, which works to bring peace players together with those outside the peace field to enact efforts to end world conflicts.  We spent the entire summer learning about conflict minerals, rape as a weapon of war, and our role in perpetuating the violence through our consumer demand. From then on, our cell phones became constant reminders that action must be taken and our voices heard.

            Last fall in the capstone class for our leadership program, we decided to focus our semester project on the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by creating awareness on our campus.  With our group of seven dedicated student leaders we put together a series of events to work towards building awareness. We hosted a week long awareness campaign that involved a coffin display containing cell phones and facts about the conflict to draw student attention. We educated the student populace and collected over 500 student signatures in support of passing a bill at CU.  We hosted guest speaker Sasha Lezhnev from the Enough Project to come and speak on our campus.  We spoke on our school’s radio Radio 1190 and had articles in the local newspapers. Along with these intiatives we formed our very own student group, Conflict Free at CU, to continue our efforts of creating awareness on campus and beyond. 

            We were specifically involved in trying to pass a bill through our student government that would commit the University of Colorado at Boulder to purchase from companies that were making strong efforts to create a transparent supply chain.  The bill failed to pass by a couple of votes due to concerns over the possible financial implications and worries over binds that may arise given the possibility the university cost centers could no longer purchase from companies they preferred.  We felt defeated and discouraged, but we did not give up.

            At the end of spring semester Erin reached out to student body president, Andrew Yoder, about presenting a resolution to University of Colorado Student Government (CUSG). He gave his full support so we went forward with the initiative. On October 6^th, the “resolution of support for a conflict free campus” was passed. After more than a year of effort, our student government has spoken up!

            CU Boulder has an image as a party school. Well here is a new image: a globally minded flagship university of the 21^stcentury. We are excited to be the first public university to pass a resolution and add a strong, loud voice to the movement. CUSG is the most powerful student government in the nation, as it is the most financially powerful and autonomous student government. This resolution is a true representation of the sentiment of us as students, as future leaders of tomorrow, and as globally minded citizens taking a stand for justice.

            As Edmund Burke said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” And we will add, 'say nothing.' Now is the time to demand responsibility, spread awareness, and create true lasting change to put an end to this extreme injustice and the deadliest conflict of our generation. Add the voice of the University of Colorado at Boulder to the growing movement, add the voice of the most powerful student government, add the voice of thousands of future leaders. We have taken a stand, let it be heard.