Students participating in Amnesty International club make a difference in the lives of people all over the world.

The on-campus activity is a chapter of Amnesty International, a worldwide organization based on the belief that all people deserve to be treated according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Leading the branch of Amnesty this year are seniors Kevin Frew as president, Michele Grinblat, as vice president, and Gema Ruiz, as secretary.

Roughly 20 students work to improve the plight of people who face humanitarian crimes, especially in third world countries.

“We’re trying to raise awareness and help people who suffer injustice,” said Frew.

Participating in Amnesty is a way for students to have a voice in international affairs.

During each meeting, members write letters concerning various issues regarding violations of human rights.

In the past few weeks members have written to North Korea, where two border patrol officers are being sentenced the death penalty, and to Columbo, where several journalists are being held incommunicado (and facing the possibility of torture) by the Terrorist Investigation Division.

When Amnesty International hears of crimes against human rights, it sends an “Urgent Action Letter” to all members, who respond by writing to the leaders of the offending governments.

The goal is to show offending governments that there is worldwide concern regarding their actions through millions of letters that adhere to the four basic rights upheld by Amnesty International—no human being should be imprisoned for political or religious views, no one should be tortured under any circumstance, everyone should have due process of law and a fair trail, and no one deserves to be put to death.

For each letter written, students will receive half an hour of community service.

To fund its operations, Amnesty charges a $5 membership fee and participates in school events like Uni-Gras.

Brought to Uni in the 1980’s by student Annie Burke, Amnesty is sponsored by history teacher Richard Takagaki.

But to ensure its future, Amnesty encourages all students to join, especially underclassmen, as many of its current members are seniors.

Meetings are held every Wednesday at lunch in room 385.