Sweets and Safety: Students Demand Action Chapter at Loyola Hosts Their First Fundraiser

Students Demand Action (SDA) held their first fundraiser Oct. 27 in the Damen Atrium, selling Insomnia Cookies to raise money for the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago (INC). The proceeds will support future violence prevention efforts and commemorate past gun violence incidents in Rogers Park. 

SDA began their Loyola Chapter Sept. 24, The Phoenix reported.

In October 2024, a shooting in Rogers Park took place outside of Insomnia Cookies. Corporate management demanded the store remain open during the event, causing workers to strike over concerns for their safety, The Phoenix previously reported. 

Fourth-year psychology major and SDA member Karoline Chidester explained the importance of SDA partnering with Rogers Park residents who have been affected by gun violence.

“Not only was this sort of a little homage to them, because obviously they were affected and it is a Rogers Park store, but also it connects to our overall preventing gun-violence and trying to be safe, and advocacy in our community,” Chidester said.

The proceeds of the fundraiser are being donated to INC. The organization specializes in training teams that support victims of gun-violence and work in communities where gun violence occurred or has the potential to occur.

The events SDA hopes to hold aren’t only to support organizations like the INC, but also aid in informing students. Mazeikis said the overarching goal of SDA events is education.

“We want to bring awareness to different forms of gun reform, educate students and create an environment where students can share their stories and feel comfortable sharing what they do and do not know about gun violence,” Mazeikis said. 

Second-year neuroscience major and SDA member Maya Taha shared why anti gun-violence events are important to her after her experience in the 2022 Highland Park, Ill. shooting. Taha said the effects on her community contribute to her involvement in SDA. 

“It was really important to spread awareness, even though we were getting so much backlash for talking about gun reform,” Taha said.

At the fundraiser, students stopped by the table for a treat and walked away with new knowledge about gun safety. Members of the SDA gave away flyers with cookies which showed students how their purchase could help neighboring communities. 

Second-year women and gender studies and history major Shaumika Pradhan, who stopped by the table to donate, said she feels these donations can be impactful. 

“It shows that people are interested and care about this cause,” Pradhan said. “So even the small things, they matter.”

While second-year biology major Iman Akbar attended the event upon seeing a familiar face at the table, said she feels supporting her peers can lead to learning new and important things. Akbar stressed the importance of communication from peer to peer.

“I first did not know what the event was for until I walked up,” she said. “Person to person communication helped get the word across.”

Akbar said she feels less pressure when learning about important topics from her peers.

“It gets the word out faster, I feel like seeing a familiar face makes you more comfortable to come up and ask questions,” she said.

The SDA has planned an upcoming event Nov. 12 to discuss gun violence prevention and young activism. 

SDA encourages students of any age and major to get involved with anti-gun violence initiatives and other organizations at Loyola. Pradhan said seeing students active in organizations at Loyola is what truly inspires her. 

“Seeing people that are like you coming together about such an important issue, it makes you want to do the same thing,” said Pradhan.