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Written by: Andy Zhong
In response to the earthquake that rocked Haiti on January 12, 2010, Bentley University students, faculty, and staff have pledged their support in a number of different capacities.
As of January 26, the earthquake brought with it an estimated death toll of 200,000. Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s largest center of economy and finance located just 16 miles west of the epicenter of the earthquake, was heavily impacted. Estimates now show that there 400,000 Haitians were displaced from the city.
In an e-mail on January 20, Bentley’s President Gloria Larson stated, “Coordinated efforts are taking place among our student leaders along with faculty and staff… These efforts are underway to gather ideas, assess the program possibilities and coordinate all Bentley activities collaboratively.”
Interest in responding to the tragedy and heeding President Larson’s e-mail have been funneled through many offices on campus, including Service Learning, Student Affairs and Alumni Affairs, and were all voiced at a community meeting on January 27 in the Sacred Space.
This meeting was organized and led by many of our student leaders and featured guest speaker and Bentley alum, Rebecca Obounou. Obounou, a Haitian native, spent her high school years living in the nation and now runs the Christian Haitian Entrepreneurial Society.
“I am incredibly grateful for Bentley holding the meeting. It is touching that students are rallying behind this cause,” said Obounou.
The meeting generated a lot of input by students who were eager to provide new ideas for the situation in Haiti. Students tossed around ideas such as incorporating charity events into already-existing ones, such as Family Weekend and Spring Day. While many of the ideas circulated had to do with merchandising, such as selling wristbands, t-shirts and baked goods, others focused on large-scale events that would be used to raise money for the cause. One well received idea was to hold a Gala for the Haiti cause.
“The plan is to have the Association of Bentley Activities (ABA), in conjunction with the Office of Student Activities, act as a clearinghouse for assisting with student-based initiatives that will contribute to the larger community aid initiatives,” wrote the ABA in an e-mail regarding the meeting. “This meeting will also outline currently scheduled events that may be used as platforms for Haiti Relief.”
Maria DiLorzeno, Director of Student Affairs, shed some insight on the future of fundraising events by stating that, “As a university, we’re trying to focus more on monetary donations than material goods.”
Direttor of the Multicultural Center Jeanette Buntin has worked to spearhead all aid efforts towards Haiti, a task that has left her confident in all of the Bentley community’s undertakings. “Whatever we as Bentley community come together to do,” said Buntin, “will be something very successful, something that will go a very long way.”
Bentley has a history of responding efficiently to the need of those affected by natural disasters. In 2005, Bentley responded to Hurricane Katrina by adopting a clinic in Bayou La Batre, Alabama. According to Buntin, Bentley contributed to the cause by “working with them and developing some funds for them…we did some toy drives for the holidays for kids.”
Buntin said she saw some clear similarities between the response to Hurricane Katrina and the Haiti earthquake. However, Buntin also stated, “I look at it as very different. I look at it as with people in Louisiana, they had a place to go. They could go anywhere within the United States. Here in Haiti, where else are you going to go? They’re an independent nation, they are by themselves.”
At the end of the meeting, both President of ABA Tyler Williams and Dan Merica pledged to continue working with student ideas and work with everyone involved to keep the momentum building.
Buntin is confident in the future of any endeavors Bentley plans. “Our community is a very, very caring community,” said Buntin. “I really like the fact that our students, more than anything, help is really coming from them. And they feel empowered to do something for their neighbor.”
If you are interested in getting involved with fundraising and relief efforts for Haiti, you can contact Maria DiLorenzo, Tyler Williams or Dan Merica.
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