Joining other universities in recognizing April 12 as Haiti Day, Georgetown University honored its commitment to earthquake relief efforts with a 12-hour series of vigils, performances and panel discussions in Sellinger Lounge.
University groups, including the Center for Social Justice Research, Teaching and Service, worked alongside professors and student organizations, such as the Caribbean Culture Circle, Student Commission for Unity, the Black Student Alliance and the Georgetown chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People for the day-long event.
“Haiti Day provides our community with a wonderful opportunity to build on our response and contribute to the ongoing relief and recovery efforts in Haiti,” Director of Media Relations Andy Pino said.
Efforts by the university to aid relief efforts following the earthquake included assistance by University Information Services in transferring funds through the World Bank to the disaster zone, as well as numerous students and alumni volunteering to supply their help.
As part of Haiti Day, Marisa LaValette (COL ’08) and Shane Young (MSB ’08) presented their experiences working at a school-turned-hospital in Port-au-Prince for 30 days.
While Young provided medical assistance, LaValette, who was a major in foreign languages at Georgetown, helped translate between Spanish-speaking doctors and Haitian patients, with the assistance of Creole translators.
LaValette and Young reflected on how aid failed to reach their hospital, blaming bureaucracy and logistical problems in countries such as the United States.
“The doctor who owns the hospital . ran out of money last week and the hospital did shut down,” LaValette said. “It is upsetting that with the millions of dollars that we have sent to Haiti, he couldn’t come up with the $350,000 that he needed.”
The two alumni continued their efforts to encourage volunteerism and provided audience members with contact information for hospitals and non-governmental organizations.
Anthony Peña (SFS ’10), president of the Caribbean Culture Circle, said he was impressed by the turnout of students in support of the events.
“I’m really proud of the outcome,” he said. “People are coming out. People are asking questions.”
Fundraising efforts took place alongside the discussions. Haitian, Caribbean and West African art and photography were auctioned during the day with proceeds going to the GU Haiti Relief Fund, which was established by the Georgetown University Alumni and Student Federal Credit Union in January.
“I’m glad we don’t look at Haiti as a tragedy that happened in the past and move on,” Peña said.
He added that student activities and conversations on the issue, as well as relief funding, help to keep the dialogue going, especially once Haiti is no longer featured in the media.
The day concluded with a range of student performances, including those by a cappella groups, and a final prayer vigil.
