Campus meetings will be held tonight and Wednesday to discuss relief efforts for the victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami and what the UConn community can do to assist.
Tonight’s meeting will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Student Union Theatre.
Professor Mamoru Saito, an adjunct professor of linguistics who recently returned to Storrs from Japan, and four Japanese graduate students will be guest speakers. Fund-raising drives and other future efforts will be discussed.
On Wednesday, the Department of International Services and Programs also will host an informational coffee hour from 2 to 4 p.m. in the International Center, located on the third floor of the Student Union. And, at the UConn Health Center, a raffle fund-raiser will be held Thursday during the Health and Environmental Fair. Money raised from the raffle will be donated to a local organization in Japan, HuMA, that is using 100 percent of its funds for immediate disaster relief.
“Each time we are faced with disasters and the human suffering that accompanies them – whether it is at home in New Orleans, our neighbors in Haiti, or across the world in Japan – the UConn community has been quick to lend a hand and do our part to ease the burdens of those affected,” said University President Philip Austin in an e-mail message. “I strongly encourage any member of the UConn community who would like to participate in any relief effort for Japan to attend.”
UConn’s effort has already begun. Dining Services last week offered a “Give a Meal” program that allowed students to use their meal card to generate funds for Japanese relief efforts. The Japanese Student Association and UConn’s Office of Community Outreach are assembling a Coins for a Cause drive: containers located beside cash registers in the Union Street Market and in coffee shops around campus will be dedicated to the cause. Also, the Department of International Services and Programs will hold a second special Japanese coffee hour on Wednesday, March 23, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the International Center.
“Our University is home to Japanese students, faculty, and staff here at Storrs, at the Health Center, and at our regional campuses. We join them in their deep concern, alarm, and sorrow regarding this ongoing crisis, which has taken thousands of lives and created an emergency of historic proportions,” Austin continued in his message. “We have reached out to them and offered to do whatever we can to assist them and their families. In addition, should you learn of any member of the University community who may be in need of help in this situation (including anyone now in Japan), please send an e-mail to the Department of International Services and Programs at disp@uconn.edu.”
In addition, information about donations or other support is available at the Student Activities website. For more information, please contact Chantal Bouchereau in the Office of Student Services and Advocacy or Angela Rola at the Asian American Cultural Center.
