Students seek to aid Haiti earthquake relief effort
By: Kaitlin Klose
Issue date: 2/5/10 Section: News
Ever since the record-breaking earthquake on January 12, Haiti has been a sight of internatonal attention. DePauw students arenow planning to contribute to relief efforts.
Over Winter Term President Brian Casey sent out a schoolwide e-mail addressing the current situation in Haiti and how DePauw plans to help, asking students to go to the DePauw homepage and click on the "Help Haiti" link. The webpage features how students are invited to donate, plan and attend events benefitting Haiti.
On Tuesday, the first Hope for Haiti meeting was held in which different students shared ideas about how to raise funds for the disaster-stricken nation. The meeting was led by Julia Sutherlin, the director of Residence Life and Housing, who believes Haiti currently needs money more than anything else.
"One of the things we are trying to focus on now is raising money," she said. "It's the easiest thing to get to support the relief process; so many of the ports and airports are damaged there, so this will go directly to it."
The Service of Solidarity for Haiti is scheduled for Feb. 10 in Meharry Hall at 4 p.m. There will be speakers who are familiar with Haiti and the gospel choir.
Sutherlin said she expects a very spiritual afternoon.
"It should be an interfaith service, uplifting with a more spiritual feel; we'll have prayers of different religious traditions," she said. "It's a kick-off of our University responding to a tragedy,"
Another plan in the works is a karaoke night at The Duck. Some of the The Duck's profits will go towards Haiti relief. The date for the event is currently pending.
Dean of Academic Life Pedar Foss also sat in on the meeting and listened to students' ideas. He thought it would be beneficial if students became more educated about Haiti.
"Would it be of interest to students if professors gave short lectures about the history and geography and more about Haiti?" he asked.
There were also discussions of raffles with big prizes and auctions. Sutherlin divided the group into a fund-raising committee and an awareness committee. She wanted to further discuss ideas at the next meeting, but said she was happy with the primary proposals that are currently in the works.
Freshman Anna Allen said she came to the meeting and is eager to be involved.
"I'm going to do both fund-raising and awareness," she said.
More Haitian relief projects and activities at DePauw will be posted on DePauw's online homepage. Announcements will be made as events are finalized.
Over Winter Term President Brian Casey sent out a schoolwide e-mail addressing the current situation in Haiti and how DePauw plans to help, asking students to go to the DePauw homepage and click on the "Help Haiti" link. The webpage features how students are invited to donate, plan and attend events benefitting Haiti.
On Tuesday, the first Hope for Haiti meeting was held in which different students shared ideas about how to raise funds for the disaster-stricken nation. The meeting was led by Julia Sutherlin, the director of Residence Life and Housing, who believes Haiti currently needs money more than anything else.
"One of the things we are trying to focus on now is raising money," she said. "It's the easiest thing to get to support the relief process; so many of the ports and airports are damaged there, so this will go directly to it."
The Service of Solidarity for Haiti is scheduled for Feb. 10 in Meharry Hall at 4 p.m. There will be speakers who are familiar with Haiti and the gospel choir.
Sutherlin said she expects a very spiritual afternoon.
"It should be an interfaith service, uplifting with a more spiritual feel; we'll have prayers of different religious traditions," she said. "It's a kick-off of our University responding to a tragedy,"
Another plan in the works is a karaoke night at The Duck. Some of the The Duck's profits will go towards Haiti relief. The date for the event is currently pending.
Dean of Academic Life Pedar Foss also sat in on the meeting and listened to students' ideas. He thought it would be beneficial if students became more educated about Haiti.
"Would it be of interest to students if professors gave short lectures about the history and geography and more about Haiti?" he asked.
There were also discussions of raffles with big prizes and auctions. Sutherlin divided the group into a fund-raising committee and an awareness committee. She wanted to further discuss ideas at the next meeting, but said she was happy with the primary proposals that are currently in the works.
Freshman Anna Allen said she came to the meeting and is eager to be involved.
"I'm going to do both fund-raising and awareness," she said.
More Haitian relief projects and activities at DePauw will be posted on DePauw's online homepage. Announcements will be made as events are finalized.
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