F r o n t   L i n e Wake Up Already by Kim Daly Many organizations around grounds provide students with an opportunity to change the community for the better. So many, in fact, that it can be difficult to decide where one should spend one's time and effort. Many of these organizations share so much in common that they often have the same goals and ideals, making it easy for their efforts to become lost in a sea of other activities. For these very reasons Wake Up Week was organized and established here at U.Va. Wake Up Week, a coalition and combination of efforts of many organizations here at U.Va., was created in the spring of 1997 to increase students' awareness of, and open minds to, ideas, issues, and movements that many members of the university community have never been exposed to. In addition to raising awareness, Wake Up Week is also an effective way of gaining support and involvement from the U.Va. community. These issues and ideas include animal rights, minority misconceptions, and sexual assault education. Wake Up Week will be held primarily on the Lawn during the last week of October. It is a joint effort of several organizations, including S.A.F.E.(Sexual Assault Facts and Education), the Film and Media Society, Amnesty International, the International Center, the Labor Action Group, and the Round Table Group, to show their commonality, promote understanding, and gain support. Wake Up Week is being organized by a core of students who will act as facilitators to help organizations do new things to promote their messages this year. According to Wake Up Week facilitator Susan Youssef, "The purpose of the facilitators is mainly to hook people up with resources and act as mediators in order to make Wake Up Week a memorable experience for students and faculty." Facilitator Julie Jones thinks Wake Up Week is the perfect opportunity for organizations "to do something that has never been done and to find alternative ways to get their messages across." Many different types of activities will be occurring during this year's Wake Up Week. Not only will informational tables be on the Lawn, there will also be panel discussions, rallies, parties, guest speakers, and many alternative ways to promote awareness. Wake Up Week activities held in the fall of 1997 included vegetarian cooking classes, drag fashion shows, African drum and dance ensembles, and coffeehouse discussions on various topics. This year's activities promise to be no less exciting, fun, or informative. Wake Up Week facilitator Marita Dillon says she can't wait to see "crazy stuff happen." The grass roots movements that Wake Up Week will be promoting will give students an opportunity to get involved and make a difference. For more information about getting involved in Wake Up Week contact Susan Youssef at 243-2346 or sy4t@virginia.edu, or Julie Jones at 293-7119 or jcj8q@virginia.edu.

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