Campus call to help our own affected by the tsunami

Updated 11:00 AM January 10, 2005

Campus call to help our own affected by the tsunami

By Laurel Thomas Gnagey

Posted 1/13/05
UPDATE:
Students and staff have scheduled an event 6:30 p.m. Jan. 14 to recognize the tragic impact of the Indian Ocean tsunami, to remember those lost and to engage the community in relief efforts. The event will begin with a candlelight gathering on the Diag, followed at 7 p.m. by a remembrance event in the Mendelssohn Theater, featuring a variety of speakers. After the formal event ends, refreshments will be served on the 3rd floor of the Michigan League, where there will be a number of exhibits, educational materials and support opportunities, inclduing information on campus fundraising and relief efforts. For more information, go to the Student Matters Web site, http://www.umich.edu/~ovpsa/studentmatters/.

As relief efforts continue in the 11 countries devastated by the tsunami, the University has begun to identify students, faculty and staff impacted by the disaster, and to determine how best to help them.

Organizers are asking the campus community to assist with the effort to reach out to, locate and support the more than 800 students, faculty and staff who are from the region or were in one of the countries during or prior to the Dec. 26 disaster.

"We ask that administrators, faculty and staff extend the maximum amount of support and flexibility to members of our community who have been affected," President Mary Sue Coleman said in a letter to campus. "Some students and scholars may have been in the region and may have considerable difficulty returning to Ann Arbor. Others may have lost family and friends, be uncertain about the whereabouts of their loved ones, or have surviving family and friends in very difficult circumstances. Some may want to return home. These individuals will need our personal support and understanding."

Dean of Students Susan Eklund and the International Center sent out an e-mail to 792 students and 45 exchange scholars, asking them to let the University know if they are safe. At Record press time just more than half had replied.

"The bulk of these have responded, 'I am OK and able to attend class,'" Eklund says. "In essence they are saying, 'I am here and will go to class,' but we have to be careful saying people are OK. Many of them talk about significant loss and about how shaken up they are; some don't mention it. A few make a specific request for assistance, while others have asked about opportunities to participate in relief efforts."

Eklund says some of those on the list may have graduated in December, but because of the normal time it takes to process graduation materials, their names have not been removed from the active student roster. She also believes a number of students may not be here yet, since some departments start the term later. Still others may not have accessed e-mail yet, she says.

Led by the Division of Student Affairs, the University has amassed a number of resources for faculty and staff to use to help students cope with the loss and fear in a way that is comfortable, and that honors their cultural beliefs and practices. In addition, events and services have been put in place to assist all of those affected.

Two outreach sessions were held last week by Student Affairs staff, including Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) professionals, to allow students to share their thoughts and learn how the disaster has affected the University community, Eklund says, adding that the office is open to conducting more of these sessions, if needed. Other resources, include:

• The University will post comprehensive information updates to the Student Matters Web site, http://www.umich.edu/~ovpsa/studentmatters/.

• CAPS has extended its walk-in hours to be available for students who need emotional support.

• CAPS has posted some information on support strategies that are useful for the entire community at http://www.umich.edu/~caps/.

• The Faculty and Staff Assistance Program offers counseling services for employees. Call (734) 936-8660.

• The Center for Research on Learning and Teaching has posted guidance at http://www.crlt.umich.edu/publinks/tsunamisuggestions.html for instructors on how to lead discussions about the tsunami disaster.

• The U.S. government's Web site, http://www.firstgov.gov/Citizen/Topics/Asia_Tsunamis.shtml, also offers a wide variety of information resources and links to fund-raising efforts and relief organizations.

Several campus departments as well as academic units also are making special accommodations to help students with scheduling, finding financial aid and more.

• The Registrar's Office is able to help with issues related to registration and adjustment of class schedules

• The Office of Financial Aid will assist students who find themselves in financial difficulty as a result of the tragedy.

The Michigan Student Assembly (MSA), the umbrella organization for student groups, and the Office of Student Activities and Leadership will serve as a central point of contact and support for student efforts, including remembrance events and student fund-raising efforts.

Eklund says students will attend a planning session to design an event hosted by Student Affairs and MSA to remember and reflect sometime this week (the date was to be determined after press time). The Student Matters Web site as well as the University Record online, http://www.umich.edu/urecord, will have updated information on this event as information becomes available.

In addition, the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, the Center for South Asian Studies and the International Institute are planning a concert Jan. 26 to benefit victims of the disaster. It will include South and Southeast Asian dance and music, featuring performers Didik Nini Thowok, a celebrated dancer from Indonesia; V.A. Gayathri, a visiting artist at the Center for World Performance who is from Tamilnadu (the part of India most seriously impacted); Pamardi and Wakabayashi, visiting artists from Indonesia and Japan, who are co-leading an Asian Theater Workshop through the ALC; and the U-M Gamelan Ensemble.

"I am heartened by the immediate response of students, faculty and staff who are working collaboratively to help plan and implement this important work," says E. Royster Harper, vice president for student affairs. "I also look forward to the various campus events that will help the healing process to begin."

Harper says student groups—particularly the organizations that serve international students or have sensitivity to cultures represented by affected countries—have an important role in helping the campus with services and programs.

Schools, colleges and other areas—such as University Housing—have been asked to help as well by designating a point person to assist with the needs of students, faculty and staff in their units. Eklund says they also will report on events and services of their units for the central repository on the Student Matters Web site.

"If there's one message I hope everyone hears, it is that this is going to be a long haul," Eklund says. "The relief and recovery effort in those countries affected is going to take a long time. Human emotion and mental well-being are going to take a long time."

Members of the community who need help or information can contact any of the resources listed above or write the Division of Students Affairs at UM.Tsunami.Relief@umich.edu.

Campus call to help our own affected by the tsunami

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