Message from Chancellor Cantor on Haitian Earthquake Relief Efforts

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,

Over the past several days, the Syracuse University community has joined the world in watching the devastating and heart-wrenching aftermath of the major earthquake that occurred in Haiti on Tuesday.

First and foremost, assistance is available to members of the SU community who may be concerned about family or friends in Haiti. Although communication with Haiti is difficult and information about individuals is very hard to obtain at the moment, the Slutzker Center for International Services stands ready to provide support and assistance to those who are concerned about loved ones. Staff there can be reached at (315) 443-2457. In addition, the U.S. State Department’s Office of Overseas Citizens Services has a hotline at (888) 407-4747 for anyone trying to reach a U.S. citizen living or traveling in Haiti.

As part of the global community, many of us feel the need to come together to provide any support and assistance we can to the millions in need right now in Haiti. The University suggests the best way to help immediately is through a monetary donation via relief organizations, which are and will be sending money, supplies and staff to Haiti to support relief efforts. At the end of this message is a list of suggested organizations, with links to information about how to donate directly to them.

In addition, Hendricks Chapel will serve as a drop-off point for those who wish to contribute via personal check. Checks made out to any of the organizations below can be dropped off at the Dean’s Office on the lower level of Hendricks Chapel during regular business hours, 8:30 a.m.to 5 p.m. weekdays. The Chapel may be reached at (315) 443-2901.

Members from our community have already expressed interest in providing ongoing fundraising and/or support for the relief efforts. Individual students and student groups interested in responding to the crisis can call the Office of Student Activities at (315) 443-2718. Faculty and staff who wish to come together to support ongoing Haiti relief efforts can contact Professor Paula Johnson (pcjohnso@law.syr.edu) from the College of Law or Professor Linda Carty (lcarty@syr.edu) from the Department of African American Studies—who have generously volunteered to organize these efforts.

Finally, Professors Carty and Johnson also have provided some historical context regarding the United States and Haiti: “The U.S. shares a long history with Haiti via New Orleans. The Haitian revolution, which began in 1791, was instrumental in inspiring the largest U.S. slave revolt in New Orleans. There were huge numbers of Haitians who moved to New Orleans in the early 1800s after the success of the Haitian revolution. This doubled the size of the “free colored” population in the area at the time. It was the success of the Haitian revolution in 1804 that led to the sale of Louisiana to the U.S. by Napoleon.”

Read about SU Library’s resource guide on Haiti: https://news.syr.edu/2010/01/26/haiti-resource-guide/

On behalf of the entire SU community, our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti and anyone affected by this terrible tragedy.

Sincerely,

Nancy Cantor

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American Red Cross:

www.redcross.org or 1-800-REDCROSS

Text “Haiti” to 90999 to send a $10 donation to Red Cross

Haiti Emergency Relief Fund:

http://www.haitiaction.net/About/HERF/HERF.html

Meds and Food for Kids:

www.mfkhaiti.org

Partners in Health:
www.pih.org/home.html

Partners in Health’s Sister Organization in Haiti – Zanmi Lasante Clinic:
www.pih.org/where/Haiti/Haiti.html

Yele Haiti:
www.yele.org/
Doctors Without Borders:
doctorswithoutborders.org/

Fan Arisen Nam Miami, Inc. (Haitian Women of Miami):

www.fanm.org
Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti:
www.ijdh.org