KU students organize campaign to raise funds for tsunami victims

Jan. 19, 2005

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

University of Kansas students have organized a campaign to raise funds to assist the victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami, starting tonight outside the doors to Allen Fieldhouse before the KU-Nebraska men’s basketball game.

Student Senate, KU UNICEF and the Center for Community Outreach at KU are coordinating the “KU Campaign for Tsunami Relief,” which will include on-campus fund-raising, a repeat presentation of Professor Don Steeple’s very popular lecture on tsunamis and a candlelight vigil. The students also tentatively plan an international dinner to benefit UNICEF on Jan. 29, said Jennifer Donnally, Lawrence junior and the Concerned, Active, and Aware Students coordinator for the Center for Community Outreach.

” The magnitude of this disaster is such that almost everyone knows someone who has been affected by the tsunami,” Donnally said. “We wanted to give students a chance to make a difference in the world at the University of Kansas.”

The death toll from the Dec. 26 tsunami has reached 220,000.

Volunteers will collect donations at tonight’s game and again Saturday outside the women’s basketball game against the University of Missouri. Both games start at 7 p.m.

Tentative schedule of events

Tonight: American Red Cross fund-raiser at KU-Nebraska men’s basketball game, 5 to 7 p.m., Allen Fieldhouse.

Jan. 22: American Red Cross fund-raiser at KU-Missouri women’s basketball game, 5 to 7 p.m., Allen Fieldhouse.

Jan. 24-28: Fund raising for UNICEF, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Kansas Union lobby and Wescoe Beach.

Jan. 26: “Tsunami 101” lecture by Don Steeples, McGee distinguished professor of geophysics and vice provost for scholarly support, 7 p.m., 120 Budig Auditorium. Steeples first gave the lecture Jan. 6 at the Dole Institute to a capacity crowd.

Jan. 26: Candlelight vigil commemorating month anniversary of tsunami, 8:30 p.m., Memorial Campanile.

Jan. 29: International dinner for UNICEF, 5:30 p.m., Ecumenical Christian Ministries, 1204 Oread Ave. (tentative)

Jan. 31-Feb. 4: Fund raising for UNICEF, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Kansas Union lobby and Wescoe Beach.

Other student organizations are being sought to sponsor these or other events on campus.