February 1, 2010
Students, Colleagues, Friends:
The University's Haiti Relief Committee has asked me to update the university community on our collection effort to date. The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) has recently designated the American Red Cross as the recipient of funds contributed to the PASSHE Haiti Relief Fund. Last Saturday, a collection was taken up at the MLK Community Celebration that raised $354.62 for the CSA Haiti Relief Fund. This past Wednesday, the Student Athletic Advisory Council joined the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference's (PSAC) efforts by collecting donations during the Men's and Women's Basketball games. They will also be collecting contributions at this Saturday's games. During this week, members of the College Conservatives and the Political Economy Club have staffed collection tables in the Library and Gemmell Student Complex, as have students at the Venango Campus. The Clarion International Association will begin selling t-shirts, key chains and lapel pins very shortly. Other Recognized Student Organizations are also at various stages of planning to support this important effort.
A forum on the Haiti tragedy is scheduled for Monday, February 8th at 6 p.m. in Hart Chapel. Organized by students and faculty, the forum will consist of panel discussions examining geological, economic, political and human aspects of this tragedy. More details will be released closer to the event. A reception and additional fundraising efforts are being planned to coincide with this event. I encourage your attendance. Please feel free to contact Shawn Hoke, Interim Director of Campus Life, at shoke@clarion.edu with any questions regarding the relief efforts.
In this world of twenty-four hour news cycles, I know that it is easy for people to develop news fatigue from being inundated with facts, updates and images of stories like the tragedy in Haiti. However, encouraging participation in community and public service responsive to the needs of society is part of Clarion University's mission and we must remain vigilant in our efforts to help the Haitian people in the wake of incomprehensible devastation. You may be saying to yourself, "I'm only one person, what can I do?" Well, you can join together with the other members of the university community and State System of Higher Education and contribute to the Haiti Relief Fund. I realize that we are facing tough economic times ourselves, but I am sure we could go without a cup of coffee, a trip to a fast food restaurant or some other treat and donate the money we save toward this effort.
If you are unable to attend any of the events previously mentioned, but would still like to make a contribution, please feel free write a check payable to the CSA Haiti Relief Fund and send it to the Clarion Student Association Office, 278 Gemmell, or stop by the CSA office to make a cash contribution.
I hope your semester is off to a good start and I thank you for your continued support of the Haitian people.
Joseph P. Grunenwald
President
PREVIOUS INFORMATION:
Late last week, Clarion University President Joseph Grunenwald released the following statement about the Haiti earthquake disaster.
The Clarion University community is profoundly saddened by the unimaginable loss of lives and livelihood caused by the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti. On behalf of our Haitian students, alumni and colleagues, the Clarion University community joins all academic communities to pledge its unflinching support to the humanitarian efforts that are critical to Haiti's recovery.
Our spring semester begins next week, and this website will be updated periodically with specific details regarding the university community's plans to marshal supplies and/or contribute to ongoing relief efforts.
President Joseph Grunenwald
Classes started at Clarion University for the Spring 2010 semester on Tuesday, Jan. 19, and a day later the first steps toward helping the Haitians were made during an open campus meeting. The reported results follow:
In the aftermath of the earthquakes that have devastated the country of Haiti, the sheer magnitude of the destruction and human suffering brought on by this natural disaster has served as a clarion call to the rest of the world to offer the Haitian people all of the assistance they can. Many in the university community have also asked what they can do to help.
According to a recent New York Times article by Stephanie Strom, "Don't send shoes, send money. Don't send baby formula, send money. Don't send old coats, send money" (see Teaching Americans What Haiti Needs: Money, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/21/us/21charity.html).
It is with this advice in mind, coupled with the urging of Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Chancellor Dr. John Cavanaugh that the 14 member institutions respond to this crisis in a unified effort At the request of Clarion University President Joseph Grunenwald a group of concerned students, faculty and staff met Jan. 20 to discuss and coordinate Clarion University's efforts.
This meeting embraced the efforts already planned by Clarion University's College Conservatives and Political Economy Club to begin collecting monetary donations on campus; established the Clarion Students Association (CSA) Haiti Disaster Relief Fund; gave rise to a commitment from the Clarion International Association to begin working on a t-shirt fundraiser; and started the planning for a Haitian Disaster Educational Forum, which will take place in February.
At this point, the committee is asking every member of the university community to do what they can to support these efforts. Collection efforts will begin this Saturday, Jan. 23, at Clarion University's Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. Additionally, members of the College Conservative and Political Economy Club will have a table at Eagle Commons Sunday, Jan. 24, during brunch and they will be coordinating collection tables in Carlson Library, the Gemmell Student Complex and Eagle Commons Jan. 25-29 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Additional students, and Recognized Student Organizations (RSO), are needed to help staff these tables.
Anyone interested in working these tables should contact Mike Armstrong at s_mearmstron@clarion.edu to schedule a time. All monies collected during these events will be deposited in the CSA Haiti Relief Fund, which will be presented to the State System as Clarion University's contribution to the system wide effort.
The efforts of this committee are in no way intended to be a monopoly on how the Clarion University community can assist in the Haitian relief effort. While the committee members ask for support of the previously mentioned initiatives, it also encourages creativity and energy in finding other ways to support the University's initial monetary effort. Any RSO wishing to raise money for Haiti is free to do so. They must complete the RSO fundraising paperwork found in the Office of Campus Life and they are encouraged contribute those proceeds to the CSA Haiti Relief Fund.
A conversation also began, and will need to continue, as to how the University can provide long-term assistance to Haiti once it begins the arduous process of rebuilding. An open forum will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 27 at noon in room 146 Gemmell Student Complex to discuss additional initiatives. The meeting is open to everyone.
Questions regarding these efforts should be addressed to Shawn Hoke, telephone (814) 393-2714, or email shoke@clarion.edu.
