Community raising aid for tsunami victims

Author: Ben Salkowe

In response to the tsunami tragedy that claimed the lives of more than 150,000 people living along the Indian Ocean, and affected countless more, Middlebury College administrators and student leaders across campus convened during the first days of the term to discuss collaborative efforts to raise financial aid for relief organizations and educate the community in understanding the disaster.

"We cannot possibly contemplate the full magnitude of this tragedy, nor what its consequences will be for the peoples and their countries directly affected," wrote President Ronald D. Liebowitz in an e-mail to the community. "However, our community can join with others across the world with acts of hope and assistance."

Liebowitz outlined several immediate responses the College was making to the disaster: raising funds for relief organizations, organizing an event to discuss and understand the disaster and its aftermath and a memorial service, held Monday afternoon in Mead Chapel.

Efforts to raise money for relief organizations began with a meeting of College administrators before the term. "We agreed to call together a group of students on the first day of classes to allow them to work out their plans together," said Laurie Jordan, chaplain of the College. "Since we [had] already had e-mails from some of the students who wanted to do something - we invited them and other student leaders."

"The meeting was an opportunity for College administrators from the Center for Campus Activities and Leadership (CCAL), Alliance for Civic Engagement, Dean of Student Affairs and the Chaplain's office to meet with some of the College's student organization leaders to offer assistance in planning and organizing their relief efforts," said Douglas Adams, the director of CCAL.

"Primarily the discussion centered around what could be done on campus for relief aid and fundraising, but we also discussed long term development aid, a memorial service and educational efforts."

Fundraisers have now begun appearing across campus. In recent e-mails to students, Commons Resident Advisors kicked off an intercommons "Tsunami Change Challenge" - taking the opportunity of charity to advance commons spirit. According to the fundraiser rules, the goal is "to raise more Penny Points than any other Commons, thus making your Commons superior in every way to all the others." By donating pennies or paper bills to their Commons' office, students raise their commons' "penny points." By donating nickels, dimes or quarters through another commons', they lower that commons' "Penny Points."

Some of the other ideas that are being pursued include a collection drive in the dining halls, a 50/50 Raffle at a hockey game, and a benefit concert, said Adams.

In a follow-up meeting the group of students and administrators chose four organizations to send collected donations to: the American Red Cross, Karuna Trust, Oxfam and Save the Children.

"We discussed not wanting to work through any governments - and talked about the various problems with both poor administration and corruption that some groups have," said Jordan. "We ended up thinking that we would like to allow people to be able to make a choice and also to learn about more than one of the agencies."

In addition to fundraising, the College is planning to hold an academic event for discussion and understanding of the tragedy. "A number of offices on campus are in the process of organizing an event at which those familiar with the region and expert in the nature of the natural tragedy itself will present material to help us learn about the tragedy and its aftermath," said Liebowitz.

Information on the time, place and speakers at the event has yet to be announced, though interest in considering and understanding the issues of the disaster is large.

"I think students are interested in finding ways to help and show solidarity with the victims of the tsunami," said Jordan. "Many of them are using the internet and the news outlets to learn more about what happened and how the relief efforts are going."

Finally, a memorial service was also held on Monday to remember victims of the tragedy. The service began with a procession of students from countries bordering the Indian Ocean, bearing their native flags. As Jordan read a welcome, candles were lit at the front of the Chapel.

A variety of readings were then shared, showcasing the College's international character. "Our community is strengthened by the diversity of our responses to tragedy and by the respect and curiosity we hold for each other," said Jordan, introducing the readers at the service.

The texts ranged from a recitation in Tamil by Vani Sathisan '07 to a Wordsworth poem read by Allison Byerly, vice president for Academic Affairs and professor of English. Students also ran a donation table at the service. The final selection before a benediction by Rabbi Ira Schiffer, associate chaplain of the College, was a moving Buddhist reading read by Nirvana Bhatia '07.

"May all beings everywhere plagued with sufferings of body and mind, instead of an ocean of sorrow, obtain an ocean of happiness and joy," read Bhatia from Bodhicaryavatara. "For as long as they remain in cyclic existence, may their mundane happiness never decline, and may all of them uninterruptedly receive waves of joy."

Individuals interested in assisting with events and fundraisers, or making a contribution to a relief organization, are urged to contact the chaplain's office.