Various Northwest clubs such as the Gay-Straight Alliance, National Art Honors Society, and Coalition set up tables in the mall to raise awareness and donations for their causes. Amnesty International had multiple displays talking about the work they help with, ranging from women’s rights, to raising money for those in Haiti, to stopping the death penalty.

“We have about 15 different tables…there are just a lot of organizations that we [Amnesty International] try to support,” president of Amnesty International and senior Becky Alexander said.

“I think with every year we just try to invite more creative [activities] into the mall area.”

Activities included face-painting and tie-dying shirts with the NAHS, playing Rockband, making worry dolls to send to the U.S. Senate to petition for an upcoming bill about women’s rights, and listening to the bands that played.

“I went last year and I was more of a partaker,” junior Hope Wooten said. “This year I’m on the other side [running a table], and it’s interesting to see people enjoying themselves.”

Some participants came to learn how they can become involved with current world issues, while others just came to enjoy the music. Talent from around the area, including sophomore Isabel Zacharias (who sang and read poetry), Briana Swift (singer), and bands Reverent Gusto, Menlo Park, Madrid, and The Cavalry all performed. A “Battle of the Bands” contest (where the band that received the most donations decided what charity all the money went to) determined that Madrid, senior Nick Michalski’s band, was the winner.

“I’m not really used to performing in front of a lot of people, but I had a lot of fun because it was more of an intimate setting than if I were on the big stage,” Zacharias said.

A few volunteers were concerned about the smaller crowds than last year.
“We didn’t have the turnout we were hoping for,” sponsor of Amnesty International David Hunt said. “The problem was we were competing with the basketball game.”

“Jamnesty is our biggest event,” Alexander said. “This is how we can raise money so we can actually give money to Amnesty International.”

5:38 p.m. : Volunteers in black T-shirts and orange wristbands run around the mall and cafeteria, frantically setting up tables, making signs, and wondering where the pizzas for the concessions tables are.

5:54 p.m. : Tables are set up for National Art Honors Society (NAHS) and Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), as well as tables raising awareness about Amnesty’s various projects including stopping the death penalty and torture, donations for Haiti, women’s rights, saving the rainforest, and Heifer International. In the cafeteria, stages are set up at each end, one for larger bands, and one for solo artists.

“Amnesty International is a world-wide group, and it has locations in 250 countries,” president Becky Alexander said. “[They are] a relief service, and they raise awareness about civil unjustices.”

6:07 p.m. : The “Battle of the Bands” is kicked off when sophomore Isabel Zacharias plays her ukelele and starts to sing some of her original compositions. People have begun to drift in.

“It was just a fun time for a good cause,” Zacharias said. “I was glad to be of contribution to the whole night.”

6:39 p.m. : Face-painting and tie-dying, sponsored by NAHS, appear to be the most popular table, sponsored by NAHS, and the sounds of students playing Rockband ring through the mall.

7 p.m. : Representatives show up for the Coalition table, quickly putting out their merchandise and making a sign for their display.

“For Coalition, the money from our T-shirt sales goes straight to Love 146, Invisible Children, and Save Darfur,” junior Hope Wooten said.

7:21 p.m. : Participants and volunteers alike race down the mall on scooters brought by GSA member Katie Davis, narrowly avoiding people, and laughing all the while. Even though Menlo Park is playing in the cafeteria, a group of senior boys break out their guitars and ukeleles and start jamming in the mall.

7:56 p.m. : Worry dolls are being made to be sent to the U.S. senate to pass a bill concerning women’s rights because in Mayan culture, worry dolls symbolize great concern.

8:28 p.m. : Feedback sounds through the hallways as the band Madrid begins to warm-up.

“I came to Jamnesty because I had a couple of friends who were playing and I knew there was music,” junior Eric Fillmore said. “Music is essential to life. It’s not that you can’t live without it, but it’s just important.”

9:30 p.m. : The screamo band “The Cavalry” comes on. Later, seniors Josiah Rosell and Vik Govindarajan take their place in a surprise performance.

10 p.m. : By now, free pizza and popcorn are being offered, and the lights in the cafeteria are turning back on as the couches and chairs inside are returned.

The rest of the night consists of clean-up, although volunteers had to work until Tuesday counting the donations.

“Jamnesty as a whole is a bunch of service groups coming together, raising money for good causes,” Wooten said.

MADRID MEMBERS:

Nick and Matt Michalski

Ryan Bruno

Matt Humphrey

THE CAVALRY MEMBERS:

Mike Gustafson

Neil Fox

REV GUSTO MEMBERS:

Jerry and Sam Frederick

Quinn Hernandez

Taylor McHenry

Mitch Hecht

Amnesty is an international organization working to protect human rights around the world. They work especially with governments that treat their prisoners in an inhumane way.

“We work to make their plight known to the world. Basically, we work towards justice,” sponsor David Hunt said.
Amnesty meets on Wednesdays after school in room A.

Jamnesty, the event Amnesty hosts, is tentatively set for January 22. At Jamnesty, many local bands are selected to play and showcase their music. People come to listen to their favorite band and socialize. Tables are also set up throughout the mall with information about some of the injustices that Amnesty works against.

- Maria Davison