Aegis Students

Aegis Students is a UK-based student coalition affiliated to Aegis Trust, committed to campaigning against genocide and ethnic cleansing. It currently lobbies the UK government to act decisively to stop the crisis in Darfur and is soon to embark on a divestment campaign in universities across the UK. Aegis Students was launched in Spring 2006 and is supported by the National Union of Students in the UK — as a motion passed through the NUS executive in summer 2006.

University Aegis Societies

The key actors in the Aegis Students movement are university-based Aegis Societies. These were first conceived in summer 2004 and their aim is to raise awareness of genocide and the work of Aegis Trust, and to support the specific campaigns of this organisation. They are rapidly developing in universities across the country, with seven societies having launched at the time of writing and around six more due to launch in the near future. The Societies have run a stall at the NUS Conference since 2005.

The societies are developing into a substantial grassroots political base for Aegis Trust, adding support and weight to the campaigns against genocide. Aegis Societies arrange speaker events, attend rallies, write articles and letters, create poster campaigns, use concerts and other events for campaign purposes, and build lasting coalitions with other student societies to support Aegis' campaigns. The inaugural Aegis Society, based at Oxford University was launched in the Spring Term of 2005.

Dr James Smith, CEO of Aegis Trust, stated after the launch of the first society: "this success gives me great confidence that the vision of the Aegis Societies will provide much power to Aegis, in building up networks of interested active people." His comment reflects the spirit of optimism with which the societies have been launched. In the Autumn term of 2005 two Aegis Societies were founded at Kingston University, London, and Derby University. During the Winter term 2006, Cambridge University and Manchester University also launched new societies. During Autumn Term 2006, societies were launched at Nottingham Trent University and Liverpool University.

The first Aegis Societies have since gained momentum, submitting articles, writing many letters and emails to their relevant MPs, designing poster campaigns, setting up a central website and using concerts and cultural events to spread the word on Aegis' campaigns. Members attended the 'Protect Darfur' rally in London on 15 May as well as joining the Aegis contingent at the Make Poverty History rally in Edinburgh in July. Since then, members have also taken part in the recent protest march that took place in London on the international Day for Darfur.

Aegis Students Executive

At the Aegis Students national conference in August 2006 the committee was expanded to comprise of four roles; Chair, Campaigns Officer, Internal Publicity Officer and Webmaster. The new website [http://www.aegisstudents.org] was also launched in summer 2006, Aegis Students is supported by the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust.

The current executive committee are:

Chair: Samuel Boarer

Campaigns Officer: Richard Newell

Internal Communications Officer: Grace Walker

Webmaster: Andrew Hale

Aegis Students also has a group containing over 900 members on the student networking site facebook, as well as more than 8 facebook subgroups.

Comments on Aegis Students

"The Aegis Trust's valuable work in educating and raising awareness about the horrors of genocide can only help to make the world a better and safer place in which to live...May I congratulate you on all your efforts and wish you every success for your Summer Conference." Sir Menzies Campbell

"I have seen the effects of genocide first hand as a foreign correspondent in Rwanda. Long after I was able to put aside the images of mutilated corpses or the grief of those left behind one question still lingered - how did we ever let it happen?”
George Alagiah, BBC Africa Correspondent

"The only safe stance is constant vigilance and an eternal campaign against this evil. I congratulate you and all involved in this project."Lord Paddy Ashdown

"In trying to expand our efforts to the international community, the National STAND Coalition would be thrilled to work with you to help get the UK mobilized." Erin Mazursky, Executive Director, Students Take Action Now for Darfur in U.S.(STAND)

"It is absolutely critical to maintain the campaign momentum, forcing the issue back on to the policy front burner, and you as a student movement will be critical in making that happen. The Darfurian people are desperately suffering, and relying on you as never before. Maintain your rage, and maintain the campaign!"Hon Gareth Evans AO QC, President, International Crisis Group & Former Australian Foreign Secretary

“We are proud to be proactively working with The Aegis Trust, proud to be adding our strength to the cause for an end to the genocide of the people of Darfur...Students are vital in this campaigning work, and it is so great to see you all here today, and as such, the NUS will be helping through the rest of our networks to mobilise students to engage in the work of The Aegis Trust."
Gemma Tumelty, NUS National President

External links

* [http://www.aegisstudents.org Aegis Students web site]
* [http://www.aegistrust.org Aegis Trust web site]
*UK charity|1082856|Aegis Trust
* [http://www.standnow.org Students Take Action Now: Darfur web site]