Horror in Haiti
Earthquake leaves hundreds of thousands dead, students organize relief effort on campus
By: Erica Horton
Issue date: 1/20/10 Section: News
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A magnitude 7.0 earthquake hit the island on Jan. 12 at 4:53 p.m., killing possibly hundreds of thousands of people and displacing more than a million.
The campus relief effort, called "It's not about Us, Love Haiti," is supported by at least 10 registered student organizations to date. The relief campaign will take donations through Jan. 29 inside and outside the Tiger Den, Wilder Tower, the campus bookstore and several other businesses in the area near the Poplar and Highland Avenue intersection.
The group also plans to sell t-shirts and host events to help raise awareness.
The victims of the earthquake have been left without basic necessities like shelter and food. The disaster knocked down many of the Haitian homes, leading relief workers to set up large refugee camps in the affected areas.
Professor Christine Powell, with The University Center for Earthquake Research and Information, said a magnitude 7.0 earthquake in any populated region is devastating, especially with buildings that were not meant to withstand an earthquake.
"In the worldwide scope of things, it's large," she said.
Professor Charles Langston, also with the center, said one of the greatest earthquakes in history took place in Chile and had a magnitude of 9.8 on the Richter scale, the tool used to measure earthquakes.
By comparison, Langston said that if a 7.0 earthquake were to hit Memphis, damage could stretch over a 31-mile span, and destroy more than 250,000 buildings.
Kristian Davis, senior education major, said volunteers on-campus did not set a specific fundraising goal because the goal is to collect as much as possible for victims, many of whom have lost everything.
"We just want to be able to help somebody," Davis said, "even if we just save one life."
President of the Dominican Republic Leonel Fernandez, whose country neighbors Haiti, said it could take $10 billion to rebuild the damaged areas, according to a recent article from The Straits Times, a newspaper in the Republic of Singapore.
Hanna Pinkston, musicology graduate student, said people's loose change can go a long way towards that goal. One American dollar is the equivalent of 40 Haitian gourdes.
Student volunteers at donation points outside Tiger Den and in the lobby of Wilder Tower said donations have varied.
Jenil Askew, junior fashion merchandising major, said many people have donated $5 to $20 each.
"If we were in their position we would want help too," Askew said of the Haitian survivors.
Jeanne Hanna, freshman anthropology major, said people's generosity has been heartwarming, but there are those who feel their donations would not make a difference.
"We've had people come by and say they want to donate but they're broke. Even loose change can help," the volunteer said. "We have worries like tuition and books, but they're rebuilding their lives."
For more information, search Facebook for the group Haiti Relief Fundraising Efforts @ University of Memphis.