It’s a modern day Crusades that few have heard of, located in an area all too familiar with war and conflict. North and South Sudan had been in constant battle for more than two decades until 2005 when the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was enacted.

The CPA put to rest a war that took more than two million lives in a time frame average to the age of a college student. The agreement listed goals to achieve peace within the country and also promised a referendum to happen six years later in 2011.

Jan. 9 marks what will possibly be the most important day in history for all of Sudan. On this day, a referendum will take place for the people of the war-torn country to vote for either succession or unity.

Thursday, the South Sudanese Student Association will be holding a referendum awareness event to promote support and knowledge of the issues taking place in Sudan.

If the South succeeds, they will become a separate, sovereign nation and will be granted the freedom and democracy the people have been waiting for, said Maurice Aduto, junior in animal ecology and president of the South Sudanese Student Association.

“It is not about politics,” Aduto said. “It is not about if you support North or the South; it is about if you support freedom and democracy. It is about helping one another.”

The objective of this event is to inform the community of Ames and Iowa State of the referendum and to gain support for Sudan. The club hopes to educate the community about the culture, traditions and importance of Sudan and the Sudanese heritage; also to gain support and awareness for the referendum.

Aduto is a first-generation college student from South Sudan attending Iowa State. He came to the Des Moines area in 2006, and plans to go back to Sudan after graduating to fulfill his duty to his native country.

For the many Sudanese, like Aduto, living in America, voting will be available in larger cities such as Omaha and Chicago. Voting registration was supposed to take place Nov. 15, but was postponed due to technical difficulties.

The issues surrounding Sudan are vast, but one long lasting issue is the split between Christianity and Islam. Religion is the main cause of the war, and it dictates the rebel armies, Aduto said.

Another never-ending issue is the unclear border between South and North Sudan. Regardless the result of the referendum, the hope is to cure these issues and promote a region of peace, following the near 50 years of conflict.

Sudan has received a lot of support and investment from abroad, and it is crucial that Americans are educated on the issue, Aduto said.

The South Sudanese Student Association must give back by their education, Aduto said, because ISU students might be the future investors of their country and they need to know what is going on.

“All of the world is watching; this is it,” Aduto said.

Although this event is primarily about education of the referendum, it is also about support for the club. The South Sudanese Student Association hopes to gain more of a presence on campus and create more interest in their group. It has been exposed to diverse communities — four out of the five council members come from tribes — and hopes to keep making Iowa State a multicultural community.

Henry Y. Lejukole, keynote speaker of the event, will aim to point out the consequences of the civil unrest in Sudan: large numbers of refugees and displaced peoples.

It is about informing and preparing the Sudanese refugees living in America to be aware of the situations and to make an educated vote for unity or succession, Lejukole said.

For ISU students who are not Sudanese, Lejukole said it is our job to motivate the government to be an informed international audience so we can better articulate the need for Sudan.

“We want our American friends to understand the issues better, because then they will understand our trials better,” Lejukole said.

It is crucial for our community to understand this international issue, because the fate of Sudan will impact the rest of the world, Aduto said.

The South Sudanese Student Association will be hosting another awareness event after Thanksgiving Break to continue promoting their presence on campus, and increase support from the student body.