A UA club will be participating in a large-scale movement against genocide by creating bones on Saturday.
The UA’s STAND, the student-led division of the Genocide Intervention Network, will be on the UA Mall from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, making bones out of paper mache and painting them as part of the One Million Bones project.
One Million Bones is creating an art installation to be displayed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., made up of fake bones collected from all over by 2013. The project is to increase genocide awareness and raise funds for genocide victims.
STAND will send the bones they make to the project. It costs $5 to sponsor a bone, and those who would like contribute but don’t want to make one can donate the money and STAND will make a bone for them.
Any money raised will go to the Enough Project, Genocide Intervention Network and Women For Women International, all groups dedicated to stopping genocide and helping those who have been affected.
Some of the STAND members had the opportunity to meet the artist who created One Million Bones, Naomi Natale, when they attended a conference in Phoenix.
Karen Johnston, vice president of STAND and a business management junior, described seeing Natale as inspiring.
“”I think it’s pretty bold to have such a big vision of something,”” Johnston said. “”I think it’s great that she’s using her skills and her passions to make a difference.””
Leila Amini STAND’s public awareness chair and biochemistry and molecular and cellular biology senior, said she likes that the event is a hands-on way to reach people.
“”I’m sure a lot of people would want to do something if they knew what was going on,”” Amini said. “”They’re not actually bones but I think that’s a strong message … that really imprints on people’s minds.””
Johnston said people often worry that they will get a “”guilt trip”” if they go to an event about genocide awareness but she said it would be fun and social.
Aeen Asghar, STAND president and biochemistry and Near Eastern studies junior, said the event would be family-friendly and the group will not use any descriptive language or graphic images.
Paradise Bakery has donated cookies and The One Million Bones representative in Phoenix will be attending the event.
