Students must "tune in" to the challenge of participating in Haiti's rebuilding efforts, according to physician Evan Lyon, who recently returned from a two-week mission to Haiti. Lyon, a doctor with Partners in Health, the nonprofit global health organization co-founded by College President Jim Yong Kim, spoke to students in a live webcast on Tuesday from his office in Alabama.
Lyon's calls to action in support of Haiti drew attention to the continued efforts of members of the Dartmouth community since the earthquake struck more than a month ago.
"Stay with this," Lyon said. "[Haiti's] rebuilding process will take years and years."
Lyon spent two weeks in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake at the largest Haitian hospital, University General Hospital, located in downtown Port-au-Prince, he said.
"The pain will go on for a long time," Lyon said. "Having gone through the initial trauma [of the earthquake], I must say the stress of the event still remains very real."
Lyon estimated that one million Haitians are still displaced from their homes, adding that "a huge investment in logistics" will be required to help the displaced Haitians survive.
The long-term effort to rebuild Haiti must involve the local population and the existing local institutions, such as churches and families, Lyon explained. A continued reliance on external help and intervention would prevent Haiti from recovering from the damage.
Lyon noted that the disruption of the education system is currently one of the most pressing issues that the Haitian community faces. Lyon explained his belief that American educational institutions can offer help to the struggling Haitian education system.
"You should challenge your university to take in Haiti students," Lyon said.
Kim announced in a press conference last week that the College is currently working on an initiative to bring a group of displaced Haitian students to Dartmouth.
In an interview with Vermont Public Radio last week, Kim said that the College "will do everything we can so that [the Haiti students'] educational experience is not interrupted."
The move to accept Haitian students at Dartmouth represents a gradual shift from "a short-term to a long-term effort" at the College to help Haiti in its rebuilding process, according to Student Body President Frances Vernon '10, one of the founders of Students at Dartmouth for Haiti Relief.
Echoing Lyon's sentiments, Vernon said Dartmouth's commitment to provide educational opportunities for displaced Haitians is laudable because the young generation of Haitian students is the country's most important resource.
"I hope that Dartmouth can serve as a model for other universities," she said.
Maura Cass '10, another founder of SDHR, said she is in favor of President Kim's initiative to bring the students to Dartmouth.
"This project is in its beginning stages but it is a great example of how Dartmouth is looking ahead to create impact," Cass said.
Amidst the festivities and celebrations over Winter Carnival weekend, various student groups and members of the Dartmouth community continued to raise funds and gifts for the Haiti relief effort.
Student groups across campus including the fraternities and sororities hosted several fundraising events over the past weekend, according to Cass.
Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity sold food items at its "Pop/Punk Party" on Thursday, raising a total of $1,550 from food sales in addition to approximately $1,000 obtained from outside donors, Adam Halpern-Leistner '10, Sig Ep's service chair, said in an e-mail to The Dartmouth.
Cass said the SDHR has raised over $200,000 from all fundraising activities since the earthquake struck Haiti Jan. 12. In addition, Cass noted that faculty, students and staff members have contributed non-monetary goods, such as clothes and supplies, through a donation box located in Parkhurst administration building.
"These donations will be sent down to Haiti as soon as possible," she said.
Cass added that she was pleased to see the Dartmouth community's enthusiastic response to the Haiti relief effort.
"We are proud of the initial response, the sustained effort, and are eager to see what we can continue to do," Cass said.
In the webcast, Lyon urged students around the world to get to know Haiti at a deeper level. It is easy only to be concerned with the diseases and casualty statistics in Haiti, he said.
Having been involved in Haiti for more than a decade, Lyon said he has come to appreciate the distinctiveness of Haitian culture.
"Find some Haitian music, Haitian art," he urged students. "The building effort is long term. Get to know Haiti in other ways."
Since Haiti is currently in a fragile state, if there are no strong efforts to preserve the distinct Haitian cultural identity, "lines of culture will be cut off and lost forever," Lyon said.
"If we do not save [Haitian culture], we'd have made a tragedy into something worse," he said.
