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 Returning
from the holiday break, members of the campus community quickly
began to organize responses to the South Asian tsunami disaster,
including several fund-raising projects aimed at generating monetary
donations for relief organizations, which aid officials said is
the most effective way to help at this time. (For example, upcoming
and recent events include a volleyball tournament and merchants'
relief week.)
Chancellor Henry T. Yang, after meeting with representatives
of various campus units, announced the formation of a Campus Tsunami
Response Task Force. Members, not all of whom have been appointed
as yet, will include students, staff, and faculty.
Among other things, the group will serve as a clearinghouse for
the myriad fund-raising relief efforts emerging on the campus. This
web site will be a tool in that effort.
In addition, the task force will develop a formal link between
the campus and Direct Relief International, the Goleta-based relief
agency that is highly regarded around the world. Efforts will be
made to channel funds raised by groups on campus to Direct Relief
as well as the American Red Cross and other agencies. The United
Way of Santa Barbara County has links to many of those agencies.
"The international disaster is of such a magnitude that it
almost defies our imagination," said Chancellor Yang. "While
we might feel powerless in response to this awful tragedy, there
are things that we all can do to help, and I am proud that members
of our campus community already have begun organizing such efforts.
We encourage, applaud, and support all these efforts. I know that
we all will find ways to respond to this humanitarian crisis."
 Among
the many campus organizations involved in planning fund-raising
activities to benefit the victims of the tragedy are the Associated
Students, Asian Pacific Islander Student Union, United Fraternity/Sorority
Caucus and other Greek student organizations, the India Association,
and the International Students Association.
A student-organized candlelight vigil to honor the memory of those
who perished in the earthquake and tsunami is scheduled for Sunday
night, Jan. 9, at San Nicholas Hall starting at 7:30 p.m..
The UCSB Education Abroad Program as well as the UC EAP have reported
that all participants in their programs in the affected region had
been accounted for.
The Office of International Students and Scholars on campus reported
that UCSB currently enrolls a total of 125 students from the tsunami-affected
countries, although 102 of those are from India and many from areas
removed from the affected zones. The campus also enrolls 7 students
each from Indonesia and Malaysia; 6 from Sri Lanka; and 3 from Thailand.
The office had successfully contacted and received responses from
all but one of those students as of January 6.
The Campus Tsunami Response Task Force will maintain these pages
on the UCSB Web site with information on campus fund-raising and
other events to benefit the disaster victims. Information for inclusion
can be sent to
the webmaster.
The group also is being asked to look into developing comprehensive
campus tsunami and earthquake education and evacuation plans. While
such emergency plans already exist, linking them to an aggressive
education effort for the campus and community is seen as an important
priority.
Chancellor Yang said that the task force would bring together campus
experts on earthquakes, tsunamis, and the impact of such disasters
on local people and their cultures. Such expertise, he said, will
help shape possible long-term responses to this tragedy.
Response
Home Information about
what is happening at UCSB in response to the earthquake and tsunami
disaster in South and Southeast Asia.
Tsunami
Campus Events Details on
campus activities planned in response to the disaster, including
fund-raising activities.
Chancellor's
Letter A message to the
campus community about UCSB's response to this disaster and the
announcement of the formation of the campus task force.
Task
Force Members A roster
of the faculty and staff members and students serving on the Campus
Tsunami Response Task Force.
UCSB
Cares A resource compiled
by James To of the Associated Students Community Affairs Board with
an exhaustive listing of agencies and organizations working to provide
relief and assistance to victims of the disaster.
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