The South Asian Student Association hosted an event in Crawford Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 6. It was primarily a group discussion on the current conflicts happening in South Asia and everyone in attendance was welcome to sip on boba while having these conversations.
Two of the board members of the South Asian Student Association, Arya Patel (‘27) and Aaran Robinson (‘28), led the discussion and briefly educated everyone on the history of the Israel-Palestine and Kashmir conflicts. They asked questions such as “How might the media be influencing our opinions?” and “When, if at all, is the use of violence justified?” These questions sparked interesting and important discussions of war and how we are informed about it, allowing for all participants to be better educated on both conflicts and their long history.
All of the students in attendance were highly encouraged to participate openly, sharing their opinions and views on the current conflicts. Several students were eager to raise their hands and initiated serious discussions on war and politics.
While there were questions asked specifically about the two conflicts, there were also some asked about war and genocide in general. Most people did not realize how messy conflicts can get when other powers interfere, or when someone resorts to violence to resolve a conflict.
The event wrapped up with the hosts thanking everyone for coming to learn more about the conflicts. Overall, it was a well-attended event that provided students with the opportunity to gain more knowledge about current events and share their thoughts in a welcoming environment.
Katie Germinder is a Sophomore majoring in Environmental Studies & Sustainability.
