Campus briefs
Santa Clara offers support to Haiti
A 6.1 aftershock hit Haiti yesterday after last Tuesday's devastating 7.0 earthquake left the country's capital, Port-au-Prince, in ruin. Meanwhile, Santa Clara's faculty and students are rallying to send funding to the country.
Santa Clara Emergency Medical Services organized a fundraising campaign, involving tabling in Benson all week long. The organization's goal is to raise $5000 before the end of the year. So far, EMS has raised about $1000 in the first three days of tabling, raising $400 in the first day alone.
"The EMTs got involved because we could," said Sean Brachvogel, EMT and the student body president.
The initial intention was to send all raised money to the medical organization Partner's in Health, a Boston based non-profit started by Dr. Paul Farmer, who has worked in Haiti for several years.
Farmer was also featured in the book, "Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World," written by Tracy Kidder. The book was included as part of this summer's orientation program, read by all incoming freshmen.
"One of the EMT's who read the book was pretty adamant that the money go there," Brachvogel said.
Since then, EMS has also considered partnering with Campus Ministry, which has already organized fundraisers along side the President's Office.
"We didn't want to be doing piecemeal things here and there," Campus Minister Matt Smith said.
Last Thursday, University President Michael Engh, S.J., and Campus Ministry Director Jack Treacy, S.J., distributed a campus-wide e-mail informing students there would be a special collection taking place during the 10 a.m., 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. liturgies this Sunday, Jan. 24. The collected money would be donated to the Catholic Relief Services, which will all be directed towards Haiti. Additionally, the e-mail provided links to Campus Ministry's Disaster Relief Web site, which also contains information on how to donate to other organizations.
"All reports indicate the financial need is immense," the e-mail said.
The e-mail also contained information about a prayer liturgy held last Sunday.
"It's challenging right now because what's needed in Haiti is basic necessities," Smith said. "So what's needed is donations to organizations that can help there. Not that money is the solution to all of this, but that's what's needed now."
The Multicultural Center is also selling "Stereotype This" t-shirts for $10, with all proceeds going towards assisting Haiti through Oxfam America, which provides clean water to Port-au-Prince.
MCC Week kicks off
Today is part of MCC Week, which includes various events sponsored by the Multicultural Center throughout the week.
Tonight, MCC and the Activities Planning Board are co-sponsoring a movie night in the California Mission Room. "10 Questions for the Dali Lama," by Rick Ray will be shown, followed by a short discussion. Free popcorn will be provided.
MCC week kicked off with MLK Night 2010: Breaking Through the Mainstream in Mayer Theatre.
Tuesday's event was a panel discussion in California Mission Room. "Race, Ethnicity and the U.S. Church" focused on the challenges and opportunities of diversity for Christians in America. This event was co-sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Learning, Office of the Provost, the Multicultural Center and the departments of Pastoral Ministries, Ethnic Studies and Religious Studies.
Tomorrow's event features all nine cultural clubs that make up MCC in "Spice Up Your Life." The food fair will be held in the Bronco and will culminate in a cultural food challenge. Students are encouraged to sample authentic cultural foods and pick up a free cookbook.
All week long "Stereotype This" t-shirts have been on sale. In an e-mail, MCC Director Jose Arreola encouraged the campus to wear the shirts Friday as a sign of campus solidarity and as a statement to end racial theme parties.
From staff reports. E-mail news@thesantaclara.com.