COAS - Programs

Africa Week 2006

During the 2nd Annual Africa Week, various organizations, scholars, vendors and artists from Africa and the Diaspora will unite to celebrate the diversity and splendor of African peoples, cultures and forms. The week will also shed light and motivate scholars on some of the prevalent issues concerning Africa and her Diaspora. Complete with an Independence Day Banquet and dance, Keynote presentations, Panel Discussion, film screenings, cultural and fashion shows, Afrika Week promises to be a spectacular event for all!

Read Cornell Daily Sun's Special Coverage:
A Continent Celebrates!
Keynote Speaker Runoko Rashidi
Brain Drain Panel Discussion

Events Schedule

Saturday March 4th @ 5:30pm - Appel MPR
Ghanaian Independence Day Banquet

Sunday March 5th @ 8pm - Ujamaa Main Loung
Unity Hour: Demystifying Pan-Africa and Her Diaspora

Monday March 6th @ 5pm - Africana Auditorium
Keynote Address: The Changing Face of Pan-African Leadership

Wednesday March 8th @ 5pm- Rockefeller 230
Panel Discussion: The Brain Drain Epidemic

Thursday March 9th @ 2:30pm - Uris G08
"Promises of Ubuntu in the New South Africa" :: Institute for African Development Seminar Series

Friday March 10 @ 5pm and 7pm - Willard Straight Hall International Room
Book/Poetry Reading Reception w/ M.K. Asante (5:30pm)
Film Screening : 500 Years Later (7pm)

Saturday March 11th @ 8pm - RPC Multipurpose Room
Afrik! Nite of Rhythms & Textures Closing Extravaganza: Fashion Show, Performances, Spoken Word

Sunday March 12th @11am - Appel Dinning
Pan-African Unity Brunch

Afrika Week 2006 Co-Sponsors include:
Coalition of Pan-African Scholars :: Ghanaians@Cornell :: Nigerian Student Association :: Ethiopian Student Association :: Black Student Union :: Cornell Cinema :: Institute for Africa's Development :: Africana Studies and Research Center :: Ujamaa Residential College :: Wanawake Wa Wari :: Spoken Ink :: Caribbean Student Association :: National Society of Black Engineers :: Cornell Health International :: Black BioMedical Technician Association ::

Darfur Campaign 2005 - 2006

The Crisis in Darfur
Violence and destruction are raging in the Darfur region of western Sudan. Since February 2003, government-sponsored militias known as the Janjaweed have conducted a calculated campaign of slaughter, rape, starvation and displacement in Darfur.

It is estimated that 400,000 people have died due to violence, starvation and disease. More than 2.5 million people have been displaced from their homes and over 200,000 have fled across the border to Chad. Many now live in camps lacking adequate food, shelter, sanitation, and health care.

The United States Congress and President George W. Bush recognized the situation in Darfur as "genocide." Darfur, "near Hell on Earth," has been declared the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today.

Over a decade ago, the world stood silent as nearly a million people were killed in the genocide in Rwanda. Now genocide is being committed in Darfur. It is not only a group's hatred that keeps this genocide going but once again it's the passive behavior of governments and bystanders. Our generation will not stay quiet any more; it is time for us to act.
In line with our mission of working towards 'Poverty and Hunger Eradication,' COAS and AIDCornell teamed up in Fall 2005 to bring to Cornell:

"Poverty in Sudan: Causes and Solutions -Fall 2005"
Cornell Daily Sun article of this program... here

Citizens of Ithaca Discussed America’s Role in Fighting Poverty in Sudan
Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath have brought Americans’ attention to the stark inequalities and poverty that still exists in the world, even in the United States. With Katrina in mind, students at Cornell University hosted an Ithaca town hall meeting to discuss America’s role in making poverty history abroad.

The speakers included: James Ketterer (Director, Center for International Development, SUNY Albany) and S. N. Sangmpam (Associate Professor of Political Science, Syracuse University)
Questions discussed: What major development issues in Sudan and the U.S. affect food security? How does the current genocide affect food security? What is current U.S. development policy toward Sudan? How can one be invovled in impacting development policy in the U.S. and abroad?

"Darfur Genocide Relief - Spring Campaign"

COAS, Cornell UNICEF, Big Red Relief Fund and many others will join together in Spring 2006 for an awareness campaign on Children of War and the Darfur Genocide.

COAS plans to mail 500 student-signed postcards to president Bush urging him to intervene in the Darfur genocide. We will also support BRR on a huge benefit concert with live performances and featuring keynote speaker Kimmie Weeks, Liberian Activist.

Please visit our links for more information on the how you can join the international campaign to stop Darfur Genocide.