By
Rebecca Kenyon
The
Buffalo State College Student Life Office has teamed up
with campus offices, student organizations and the American
Red Cross to increase support for Hurricane Katrina
victims.
The Buffalo
State Coalition for Katrina Relief Efforts was
formed by the Student Life Office on September 12 in
response to campus concerns for those affected by the
hurricane. The coalition plans to collect, manage
and distribute future support to victims and their families.
Buffalo
State students donated blood to the Red Cross for victims
on September 6 and 7. According to the Red Cross,
82 productive units
of blood were collected. Thirty-one of the students
who donated were first time donors. The blood drive
was successful but students felt more could be done.
“I
don’t think people on campus realize how big this
is. I have family down there and their house is
20 feet underwater,” said senior Elizabeth Jaeckle.
Jaeckle
said she expected to see a bigger turnout.
“This
is a national issue. We should be doing more to
help. Unfortunately, it seems like the same people
are always helping and others are more concerned about
partying,” said Jaeckle.
Gail
V. Wells, director of student life, said that she wants
to use the coalition to build a community within Buffalo
State that will provide support for faculty, staff and
students who have family in the Gulf Coast.
"We
are using student organizations as a galvanizing point
of participation. Right now we see it as a massive
Buff State effort,” said Wells.
The following offices and organizations
make up the coalition:
The
coalition has placed collection containers at several locations
on campus. There
is an account set up for donations as well. Checks
can be made out to Buffalo State Foundation, for the Katrina
relief fund. The Red Cross will be given a lump sum check
at the end of the collection. The Red Cross said
that the money will be sent to national headquarters in
Washington, D.C., and disbursed to victims for items such
as food, shelter and clothing.
Wells said she is
looking for new members and expects a stronger coalition
to come. The coalition
meets in Student Union 400 at 2 p.m. Monday. For
more information about the coalition contact Wells at 878-4631
or wellsgv@buffalostate.edu.
Rebecca Kenyon can be reached at usiarm65@mail.buffalostate.edu
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