Students join relief effort

By Emily Bechen

The events of Sept. 11 have had a profound effect on the Santa Clara community. The entire world has reached out to aid the relief efforts on the East Coast, and Santa Clara University is no exception.

Joe McNally, Santa Clara's student body president, listened to students' reactions to the tragedy and the recurring theme seemed to be that they wanted to be part of the solution. McNally then came up with a game plan.

"I got all Chartered Student Organizations, Santa Clara clubs, and the Residence Hall Association together to plan a few basic projects with timelines, and the most popular idea was a benefit concert," McNally said.

The benefit concert was held last night and its proceeds will go to the American Red Cross Relief Fund. More than 275 people attended the event, which was held at Bellomy Field.

The Recipe, Amboy Kelso and Disquiet all played at no cost with equipment donated by Roots Productions.

Bon Appetit has also made it possible for students to donate an allotted amount of dining points to the same Red Cross Fund in the coming weeks.

University Health Educator Laurie Lang has spearheaded a blood drive that will take place on Oct. 22 and 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Stanford Blood Bank, a non-profit agency, will be collecting blood at the Brass Rail the first day, and the following day will have a bloodmobile parked on the Swig side of Benson.

All appointments were filled the first week of school, but Lang encourages students to drop in and give blood because many students who have signed up will be unable to give blood for a host of different reasons.

Lang will also be teaming up with Associated Students to sponsor a blood drive during each coming quarter.

Lang was impressed with students' willingness to get involved.

"It usually takes a lot to get the kids to give blood; we have to go out and beat the bushes and set up tables in Benson, but this time the response has been overwhelming," she said.

The Provost's Office has also stressed the importance of education about the recent events, and is hosting a series of teach-ins available outside of the classroom with various faculty members.

For more information call the Provost's Office at (408) 554-4533.