The impact of the earthquake that struck Haiti on Tuesday is being felt at Penn, where plans have already been set into motion in an effort to help the relief efforts.
Last night, UMOJA—the umbrella organization for black student groups—the Dessalines Haitian Student Association and Makuu, Penn’s Black Cultural Center, held an open planning meeting in the ARCH building.
The primary fund-raising effort proposed was a concert involving Penn performing arts groups.
As of press time, no official date or venue had been announced, but Vice President of DHSA and College junior Knaack Isaac said he would like to hold the event within the next week.
A food and necessities drive is also being planned. Makuu Director Karlene Burrell-McRae said they hope to set up collection boxes in each college house and other locations around campus so that basic necessities can be collected and sent to Haiti.
“Here’s a way for the Penn community to show its best spirit, by reaching out to support in whatever efforts possible,” she said.
The meeting was attended by representatives from various student organizations, such as Penn’s interfaith group PRISM, the Civic House Associates Coalition and the Newman Council.
Following the meeting a support and information session was held. Representatives from Counseling and Psychological Services and Makuu, University Chaplain Charles Howard and Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum spoke at the second gathering.
The speakers emphasized the availability of support on campus and encouraged all students, especially those of Haitian descent, to make use of the resources available.
In a statement released yesterday, President Amy Gutmann said that at Penn, we “extend our deepest sympathy, our prayers and our concern to the untold number of Haitians who are struggling to deal with the widespread devastation.”
She encouraged “members of the Penn community to give generously to relief organizations, and to take an active role in long-term restructuring efforts.”
The earthquake also directly impacted Penn students of Haitian descent who have family in the affected area.
“At first I thought it had just been a tremor, but then once I heard [of the magnitude] of the earthquake, I called my mom … her voice was very low and scared,” said College sophomore Cassandra Garraud.
Her family had been unable to get in touch with many of their Haitian relatives, due to a lack of reliable phone service.
“The main concern is to build awareness of the terrible conditions in Haiti, which existed before the earthquake even happened,” she added.
She first found out about the earthquake through a forwarded text asking for prayers for the victims.
College sophomore Sabrine Tribie spent ten days in Haiti over winter break visiting family. “Anybody who goes there knows that [Haiti] is the least prepared place to handle this type of situation,” she said.
Her family has heard from some, but not all of their Haitian relatives.
The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.0 on the Richter scale and had an epicenter about ten miles away from Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital and largest city.
