Category | News

Hoo’s Hoo: Haitian Student Alliance leads quake relief efforts

Published on February 2, 2010 by Amie Flannigan

KSU students have rallied in great numbers for the support of Haiti after a devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake killed more than a reported 150,000 people and left 2 million homeless. Heading the efforts was the Haitian Student Alliance.

Within a few days of the quake the HSA became the official registered student organization to receive donations, employing the help of President Papp and the offices of Financial Aid, the Registrar and the Bursar.

The HSA and their supporting departments helped students who have family in Haiti by setting up a monetary donation account and organizing a candlelight vigil.

“When I first heard about it all, I felt so helpless,” said junior Errold Michel, founder and former president of the HSA. “I was in disbelief. But the response has been amazing.  Students are putting forth so much effort.  There are students who aren’t even Haitian who are crying and devastated.  Everybody wants to come together.”

The HSA and Caribbean Student Alliance hosted a candlelight vigil that brought an estimated 300 students, faculty and locals together in remembrance for those lost.

KSU students have donated more than 75 boxes of necessities and nearly $1,500 and yet there is still so much to be done.

One week after the quake, an aftershock with the magnitude of a 6.0 hit. This event strengthened the resolve of the HSA to continue on it’s mission, helping send clothing, food, water, money and other supplies.

On Jan. 24, the Haitian government declared an end to its search and rescue phase in order to focus on recovery.  Yet many have not accepted the end of the search and continue to look for survivors.

“It’s a hard call to make,” said senior Nechema Hilaire, secretary of the HSA and Student Coordinator of KSU’s Haiti Relief effort. “We need to start fixing our country.  But, how do you start repairing when there are bodies everywhere?”

There is one thing that the HSA wishes the media would clear up.  “The media is always referring to Haiti as the ‘poorest country in the world’,” said senior Gnima Diop. “They conveniently forget to mention Haiti’s history and why they are in this situation; that they were the country that produced the most profit in the world, but it was stolen.  And that the country has continued to be exploited by dominant nations such as the French. These are the facts that are always left aside.”

These sentiments have been shared by students across campus.

“We are a proud nation,” said Hilaire.  “If we could, we probably wouldn’t ask for help.  But we need help and are grateful for it.  I want to be able to take my kids to Haiti to share with them a different culture.
I want our culture to survive.”