Purdue SJP and 20 other organizations collaborate to raise funds for Haitian earthquake victims
West Lafayette, Indiana – March 11, 2010 – Fourteen different student organizations came together last Wednesday, March 10, to raise $2,226.26 for Purdue’s Haiti Relief Fund with “United For Haiti,” a variety show coordinated by Purdue University Students for Justice in Palestine. The variety show, which was hosted in Purdue’s Stewart Center, included dances by the Purdue Arab Society and Lebanese International Organization, the Purdue Salsa Club, Dance2xs, a fashion show by the African Students Association, and poetry by Purdue’s Samir Khadra and founder/editor of “The Quirk” Kaveh Akbar. In addition to the performances, students raised funds through the sale of T-shirts provided by the Purdue Engineering Student Council and of raffle tickets for prizes donated by local restaurants and businesses, in addition to several wholly voluntary donations.
Many of the more than 200 audience members were amazed by the diversity of performances and the number of different student organizations participating. For many of the organizers, the cooperation between these organizations was almost as much a cause for celebration as was the success in raising more than $2,200 for Haiti. “It gives people a chance to see the diversity of cultures represented on our campus,” said event coordinator and Purdue SJP Treasurer Nahla Ahmed of the diversity of performances, “and it gives everyone a chance to come together and use their talents to help the people in Haiti who need it so desperately.”
The event’s success in raising funds for the victims of Haiti’s catastrophic January 12 earthquake has prompted members of SJP to consider making the variety show an annual fund raising event. “I think this shows how much people want to help each other,” explained Purdue SJP Vice-President Deena Schwen, “They just need an opportunity to do it. Organizing something like this every year to raise funds for people who are suffering and need our help could be a really great way to give students that opportunity.” In addition to disaster relief efforts, aid for civilians in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine were mentioned as possible beneficiaries of future fund raising events.
The organizations that worked with Purdue Students for Justice in Palestine to raise funds in last Wednesday’s variety show included the Purdue Engineering Student Council, Beta Chi Theta, the Caribbean Students Association, the Haraka Writers, the African Students Association, the American Red Cross, Amnesty International, the Purdue Organization for Labor Equality, War on Hunger, and WiseCampus. The show’s emcees were Joandy Angrand and Katie Clemens, and performers included Danielle Roberts and Colin McDonald, the Caribbean Students Association, the “Broke Dancers” Crew, Haraka for Haiti, the Purdue Arab Society and Lebanese International Organization, the Purdue Latin Ballroom Dance Team, Tashia Venort, Samir Khadra, the Purdue Salsa Club, Josephine Casely-Hayford and the Divercity Band, Kaveh Akbar, Chu Chiemenzia and Amanda Cooper, Trice the Beast, Dance2xs, Kadyrn Kadasia, Purdue Taal, and Onyx Uzomah and Iman Allawzi.
About Purdue University Students for Justice in Palestine
Purdue University Students for Justice in Palestine is made up of a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, and community members who promote justice, human rights, liberation, and self-determination for the Palestinian People. For more information, visit their web site at www.purduesjp.wordpress.com.
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