Tragedy shook the world Jan. 12 when Haiti was hit by a large earthquake. Registering a 7.0 on the Richter scale with a 6.1-magnitude aftershock, the earthquake devastated a country. Members of the University community were not immune to the disasters’ destruction. For those who lost family and friends or who have not heard from loved ones, our thoughts go out to you. We cannot even begin to imagine how you are feeling.
In this darkest hour, it is important to do whatever we can to help those most in need. Almost immediately after word of the tragedy broke, students, faculty and administration began coordinating efforts to help the Haitians, and these efforts deserve recognition.
Within only a short period of time, members of the Penn Community held a vigil, organized benefit performing arts shows and sold-out concerts, set up drives for supplies and more. Even alumni are getting involved in efforts to aid victims of the earthquake. These initiatives have already raised money and materials for the cause, and the campus is only getting started working to help such a worthwhile cause, with additional fundraisers and benefits to be held in the near future.
While we wish this horrific event had never happened, it’s nice to see people from all corners of the University coming together to make relief efforts a top priority.
As the tragedy in Haiti fades from the headlines, we hope Penn’s charity work does not die down, but instead continues to help improve the lives of those who have lost everything.
