BCU students fast to raise awareness

By Melissa Kokenge, Globe staff reporter
March 16, 2006

Around 24 Briar Cliff University students and staff participated in a 30-hour fast to raise awareness and give an understanding of world hunger and poverty. The fast began at noon on March 10. Students were only allowed to drink water and juice throughout the 30 hours.

BCU students, Mari Lavin, Dominique Valdes, Alison Bourek, Jennifer Nunez and Jennifer Davis, organized the event with the assistance of Sister Janet May, director of campus ministry.

At 5 p.m. on Friday everyone was invited for opening activities and orientation in the campus chapel. Not everyone had to participate in the activities.

"I think that doing this as a group made me realize that a lot of people go through this everyday but not everyone can count down and say I have two hours until I can eat. We went through it together and I think that is what a lot of people in the world have to do," said Marena Fritzler, a freshman at Briar Cliff. "They lean on each other for support and help in their weak times, and that is what we experienced together in the 30-hour fast, we were together and we helped each other."

The Friday evening events had three speakers lined up for the participants to hear. They were Sister Grace Ann Witte, Emilio Membrano and Bob Olson.

"Sister Grace Ann was really good and she talked about the poverty in Sioux City. She had pointed out where the main poverty areas were and how they just struggle to get by and a lot of times they are even evicted, some are very low income houses and somehow they can't even afford that," said Alison Bourek, a sophomore at Briar Cliff.

Bob Olson showed the students pictures of kids who were starving, and talked about long periods of fasting and how it affects the human body.

"You could only see their skin and bones pretty much and he talked about why they have a pot belly," said Bourek

The third speaker Emilio Membrano, who is originally from El Salvador, gave the students a personal account of his fasting for political reasons. He spoke about how he fasted for 40 days-plus, in order to make a statement to the government.

"It gave a little insight into what people faced everyday around the world. We knew that we were going to eat in 30 hours and we didn't have to worry about where our next meal was coming from," said Bourek. "You almost feel guilty because you know you are going eat soon."

The students also watched "Hotel Rwanda" Friday evening, which gave them an understanding of genocide and people who live in Africa.

On Saturday the students were involved in service projects throughout the community. Some of the places the students helped out with are LaCasa Latina, The Gospel Mission, Goodwill, Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity.

Alicia Dreyer, who did her service at Habit for Humanity, thought it was a lot of fun. "We did landscaping stuff and dug a few things. I did a lot of community service projects in high school. It gave me a great feeling to know that I was helping someone out."

Throughout the whole 30 hours many of the participants leaned on God to help them through.

"I was thankful to God that I was born in American. I just kind of said a little prayer when I got weak. I leaned on God and I think that is why I didn't have any of the hunger," said Laura Keane.