Haiti Earthquake Hits Home for DU Students
By Angela Romano
romaange@my.dom.edu
Copy Editor
February 3, 2010
In the wake of the earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12, 2010, communities are coming together to raise money and donate materials to help the victims, and for some Dominican University students it’s too close to home.
With several relatives living in Haiti, Colleen Laurent, 25, a Post-Baccalaureate student at Dominican, and her father have been attempting to contact their family back home. “It’s hard being here and not knowing how they’re doing,” Laurent said. “The communication is minimal and it’s difficult to get in contact with them.”
According to The New York Times, it was the worst earthquake in the region in more than 200 years. A preliminary assessment from Haiti’s government put the body count at 150,000 on Jan. 23, which is sure to increase in the coming days.
With electricity and telephone lines down, loved ones back in America struggle to know if their families are dead or alive “We can only think the worst because we don’t know what’s going on,” Laurent said. “My father got in contact with some relatives and they are living in the parking lot of a church. I can’t imagine watching your country crumble before your very eyes.”
Joel Degand, another Post- Baccalaureate student at Dominican, is left to wonder what the devastation is like back home. Degand is a first-generation Haitian American who has strong ties to Haiti. He has been to Haiti several times to visit family and other times for service to help provide education and medical care for children in northern Haiti.
In the aftermath of the earthquake Degand was shocked to see his homeland destroyed. “Now that we are closing in on two weeks since the earthquake, the situation is still distressing,” he said. “A few aunts and cousins have been able to leave Haiti by bus to the Dominican Republic and then have flown to the States to my parents’ home outside of Chicago. Yet, some other relatives remain in Haiti and communication with them has been sporadic. A couple friends have not survived, and the search for others is discontinued.”
Although the search for family members is crucial, Degand and Laurent are trying to spread awareness that Haiti has always been a country in need.
“It took a disaster to realize Haiti is one of our poorest countries. It’s important for Dominican students to realize that once the media stops, that doesn’t mean the problems in Haiti are going to stop,” Laurent said. “It’s important not to forget.” Degand wants people to remember Haiti not for its devastation, but for its character.
“What pains me is that many people have only come to know Haiti in this light - crippled and desperate - which could not be any further from the truth,” Degand said. “Despite years of political instability, dictatorships, tropical storms and deforestation, Haitians remain some of the most resilient and fiery people one can come to know. Haiti and its people have the power and fortitude to rebuild, and it is important as Americans that we assist them in the process.”
Dominican is seeing the community come together to raise money, awareness, and strength to help the victims, and many realize the efforts must be on-going. Black Student Union AdvisorRobbie Byrdsong-Wright realizes this.
“The efforts the Dominican community has done has been nothing but impressive,” she said. “To sustain this effort it must be more than a day, a week, or even a month. Their whole country went to pieces in a matter of seconds, but in order to rebuild Haiti it’s going to take time, a lot of time.”
Every organization at Dominican is helping in some way or another, including the vice presidents who are meeting this week to discuss a drawn- out plan. The Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) is also brainstorming ideas for luminary projects.
“We realize the devastation is going to take as many efforts by as many groups as possible, so our luminary project is going to be a way to visibly show our concern for this situation and generate much needed funds to contribute to the effort,” said Mary Conforti, President of GSSW Student Association.
Degand keeps his hope. “In faith, we will see Haiti anew.”
http://www.dominicanstar.com:80/joomla1/index.php/news/99-haiti-earthquake-hits-home-for-du-students
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