When Amanda Moore attended the Amnesty International southern regional conference in Charlotte last fall, she said she was surprised to see how many college students attended.

It was there Moore, a senior global studies and public relations major, was inspired to start an amnesty club at Appalachian this fall.

Moore said her main goal for the new Amnesty International Club is to emphasize education for people about global conflicts.

“I think we do a lot for sustainability, which can be related to human rights issues, but we don’t focus on a lot of more controversial things such as the death penalty, or any type of maternity housing rights,” Moore said. “Those kind of go unnoticed.”

Moore said she really wanted to see Appalachian become more engaged in social justice and human rights.

“I really want to have people active in advocacy, being that active voice,” Moore said. “Not sitting down and doing nothing, but being empowered to go out and change the world around them.”

Selena Hilemon, Appalachian Community Together assistant director of Community Service, is the staff advisor for the club.

“I think our mission for Amnesty is to help bring awareness of global human rights issues into Boone, and make them very real for students, because that’s exactly the kind of world they’re going to enter after leaving Boone,” Hilemon said.

Hilemon said she thinks the broader mission of amnesty is really centered around education and awareness.

“I personally am always motivated to learn about social issues and social justice,” Hilemon said. “So, whether that’s looking at human rights, I think it’s important to look at how humans treat other humans. I think its our basic purpose in life is to treat each other well and with respect.”

The interest meeting is Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the Watauga River room of Plemmons Student Union.

Story: KATELYN BYNG, Intern News Reporter