January 10, 2005

Purdue campaign escalates to send aid to tsunami survivors

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University is encouraging people to support a campuswide effort by a coalition of student organizations being coordinated through Purdue Student Government to raise money for victims of the tsunami in South Asia.

"Many people within the entire Purdue community have expressed a desire to take collections and send help to victims of this devastating disaster," said Thomas B. Robinson, vice president for student services. "This is our chance to speak with one powerful voice to show our compassion and send aid where it can help the most."

Student volunteers from about a dozen groups at Purdue are asking for contributions throughout campus today (Monday, Jan. 10) through Jan. 21. This student coalition is spearheading the effort with support from the Office of the Dean of Students.

"We want to help students as well as faculty and staff to get involved with the relief effort of all these groups," said Aaron Schnur, president of Purdue Student Government.

Groups participating include Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Association, Mortar Board, Residence Hall Council and Purdue Student Union Board.

Donna Depew, development director for the Tippecanoe Chapter of the American Red Cross, said money collected by the student coalition will be sent to the International Response Fund.

"We've been incredibly busy right now, not only from helping victims of the tsunami but also with other major issues, such as flooding in the state," Depew said. "We can process the contributions more effectively if groups give us one check rather than a lot of cash, because we simply don't have the staff to count the money."

The American Red Cross, operating largely with volunteers, is responding to the tsunami disaster with food distribution, vaccination and health care, water and sanitation, and mental health care, Depew said.

The Red Cross is providing signs and collection cans for the collection effort. Tables will be inside at the following locations through Friday (Jan. 14): the Electrical Engineering Building, Class of 1950 Lecture Hall, Lilly Hall of Life Sciences, Krannert and Stewart Center.

All residence halls will have a collection site at their main offices. Fraternities, sororities and cooperative houses also will have collection points in their buildings.

People going to the Purdue-Indiana University basketball game on Saturday (Jan. 15) will have the chance to contribute before or after the game at tables set up outside Mackey Arena.

Until the cutoff date of Jan. 21, checks made payable to "Purdue Tsunami Relief" may be dropped off at the following locations: Purdue Student Union Board, Room 268 of Purdue Memorial Union, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.; Purdue Student Government, Stewart Center, Room G6, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.; and the Business Office for Student Organizations, Room 213 Schleman Hall, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

In addition, checks may be mailed directly to Purdue Student Government, STEW Box 640, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907.

Another event planned on campus will be a dinner from 6-9 p.m. on Saturday (Jan. 15) at the University Church, 320 North St. A complete Indonesian dinner will be served for a minimum donation of $10 per person. The dinner is sponsored by the Indonesian Student Association. Proceeds will be sent to the Indonesian Red Cross.

More than 156,000 people were killed after a magnitude 9.0 earthquake occurred off the Indonesian island of Sumatra on Dec. 26, triggering massive waves that surged across the Indian Ocean. All infrastructure has been wiped out in areas hardest hit, including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Burma and Malaysia. Areas in Africa such as Kenya, Somalia and Tanzania also were damaged by the tsunami.

Writer: Maggie Morris, (765) 494-2432, maggiemorris@purdue.edu

Sources: Robinson, (765) 494-5776, trobinson@purdue.edu

Schnur, Purdue Student Government president, (765) 494-7194 or (765) 714-1489, aschnur@purdue.edu

Tim Jones, fund-raiser coordinator, (765) 532-8331, tcjones@purdue.edu

Depew, (765) 742-6975, Donna@Tippearc.org

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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