One month after a tsunami devastated parts of Asia, campus efforts to remember and raise funds for the victims continue this week with a candelight vigil Tuesday at midnight.
The Student Assembly vigil comes a week after campus groups, led by the Dartmouth Coalition for Global Health, united last Wednesday night for their final tsunami fundraising effort.
DCGH Director Jhilam Biswas '05 estimated that 500 people attended the fundraising event, officially titled "Dartmouth Responds: Tsunami Relief Benefit," which altogether raised approximately $6,300, nearly half of which came from a silent auction. The remainder was raised through ticket sales and donations.
The money raised will be split between Action Against Hunger, Direct Relief, UNICEF and Save the Children. According to Biswas, these organizations were chosen based on their low administrative costs and hard work to get the money to where it is needed. Organizers had dual goals for the fundraiser.
"This event consisted of two very important themes: the unification of the campus, coming together to express that they cared and the awareness that one day this [tsunami] is going to be a silent global health issue, and we really wanted to build awareness, sustaining the relief efforts," Biswas said.
Biswas added that the tragedy was an opportunity to bring the campus together to champion a single cause.
"It was just something that the campus rarely does, in this sense of mass collaboration," he said.
Biswas felt the crucial factor in the event was its scale and range.
"We had a huge contingent who were invested in the cause. We really tried to touch every interest group on campus and bring them together," Biswas said. "That was the most important part of this event."
Performers said they felt positively about donating their time.
"I thought it was very successful. A lot of people showed up and showed their support," Jennifer Liu '08, a dancer for Vandana, said. "I was glad to help, it was for a good cause."
Students saw the evening as a fitting capstone to the College's tsunami fundraising events.
"It was a really good culminating event because before that all of the groups had done individual performances, but this brought them all together," Tess Reeder '08 said. "This was a way for everyone to get involved."
The event was hosted by DCGH with the SA, Milan, Nathan Smith Society, International Humanitarian Federation, Shanti, Greek Leaders Council and UNICEF groups.
The evening included dinner, desert, a silent auction and several performances. Campus organizations donated most of the food and auction items.
