GO Getter: Katie Schmidt

A Missouri State student STANDs up against genocide.

While most college students whittle away the time drinking Night Train and sleeping with homeless guys, a few kids out there use their free time to actually try to change the world for the better. Katie Schmidt, a social work major at MSU, founded STAND, a student anti-genocide coalition, to help raise awareness about Darfur massacre, where more than 500,000 have been killed and 2.5 million forcibly displaced. Only in the Ozarks would someone oppose a group like STAND.

What is STAND?
STAND is a student-led coalition that works to raise awareness about the genocide in Darfur. We’re trying to get people out there to do something.

What do you do to get people aware?
We speak in a lot of places on campus, and we had a benefit dinner in March, where we raised $1,600 dollars for supplies. An MSU student who survived the Rwandan massacre spoke. We showed “The Darfur Diaries,” which is interviews conducted with refugees living in Chad. So STAND takes up a lot of time.

What else do you do?
I didn’t sleep all semester. I go to school full-time and participate in the Campus Crusaders for Christ. In addition to STAND I work at the Steak ‘n’ Shake on North Glenstone.

That’s the one I never go to.
You should.

So, how did you get working on STAND between all this stuff?
It started back in October. I spoke to the Student Government Association and said, “Hey, this is what’s going on in Darfur.” And from that, that’s how STAND got started. It’s been quite a learning experience.

You’re an anti-genocide group. How do you deal with all those pro-genocide people running around college campuses?
Actually, we’ve had some resistance.

Wow. And I was being facetious.
People are skeptical of the UN getting involved, or about where our money is going. They say “Africa is corrupt; the peacekeepers are doing a pitiful job.” You just have to pick the best option (of where the money should go). But you have to do something.

So what’s STAND’s future look like?
It will continue, but I will study in Hawaii next year. I’d like to pass it on—it is my passion. All of us standing together can make a difference. I don’t want to stand in the limelight. Hopefully, together, we can stop the tragedy.

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