Haverford Students Organize Guatemalan Relief Effort

Already impoverished and still suffering from the horrors of a 36 year civil war, the Mayan villagers of a small community called Panabaj have yet another reason to mourn. Last week, landslides caused by Hurricane Stan wiped out Panabaj, burying more than 500 people. By the weekend, the government abandoned its recovery efforts.“Panabaj no longer exists,” Mayor Diego Esquina told reporters, and the town was declared a mass grave.

More than six thousand residents of Santiago and Panabaj are now homeless. They are crowded into shelters – church floors and municipal buildings. These villagers have lost everything – family members, homes and modest possessions. Its villagers suffer, fearful of what is to come, but resigned to their fate in a world that doesn't seem to care.

Students and faculty at Haverford College do care. They have developed an intimate relationship with the residents of Panabaj. For the past five years, political science professor Anita Isaacs has been working with the widows and orphans of Panabaj. Her students have learned about Panabaj through first hand experiences in the field. With the support of Haverford's Center for Peace and Global Citizenship, some twenty students accompanied her on a field trip to the community in March 2004. Students continue to build on the relationship between Haverford and Panabaj through travel and correspondence.

Since the tragedy, Haverford students have mobilized to raise awareness and funding for the Panabaj relief effort. From selling Guatemalan handicrafts to trick-or-treating for Panabaj, from establishing relationships with local businesses to personally delivering blankets and other essentials to Panabaj, student efforts at Haverford have gained coverage from the Philadelphia Inquirer, the BBC, and Telemundo. Working in cooperation with the American Friends Service Committee, an account has been established to specifically aid in the Panabaj relief effort. Students and faculty at Haverford are committed to aiding in the short-term relief and long-term reconstruction efforts. Please do join us by donating or contacting us at aisaacs [at] haverford.edu

Listen to Anita Isaacs talk about the Guatemala relief effort on BBC radio.

Response to Hurricane Katrina

Haverford Offers Enrollment to Students Displaced by Hurricane Katrina
Haverford has been able to accommodate all displaced students who have expressed an interest in attending Haverford for fall semester 2005.

As of September 12, five students have been enrolled — four from Xavier University and one from Tulane University. Tuition will be redirected to the home institutions to aid the rebuilding and restoration efforts there.

new! Hurricane Relief Party
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22nd 8-11pm TRIUMPH ROOM
Join Haverford, Brown, and Duke Alumni in the New York area at the Triumph Room for drinks, socializing and dancing to aid the victims of Hurricane Katrina. A $10 cover, all of which will be donated to the American Red Cross, will be collected. Once inside enjoy $5 drinks and $4 beers for as long as the DJ's spinning! Please encourage all co-workers and friends to come out and support the cause!

The Triumph Room located at W. 57th St. between 8th and 9th (www.triumphroom.com) is easily accessible by the A, B, C, D, and 1 trains at Columbus Circle.

Haverford Alumni Runners to Support Katrina Relief Efforts

On Friday, September 16, and Saturday, September 17, two teams of 12 Haverford alumni runners will be participating in a 207-mile relay race from the White Mountains of New Hampshire to the Atlantic (Hampton Beach, NH) to raise funds to help victims of Hurricane Katrina.

This will be the sixth time the Haverford Alumni Honor Goats have participated in the Reach the Beach relay (www.rtbrelay.com). In the past, this race has been a great opportunity for Haverford runners to reunite, be part of the team again, run hard, and enjoy beautiful New Hampshire during the peak of its fall colors. However, this year, in response to the
devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, the team has decided to use the race as a vehicle to raise funds and awareness to help the victims of Katrina. All funds raised will be donated to the American Friends Service Committee in their efforts to provide short and long term relief to help rebuild communities and restore lives of those people who have been
impacted by the hurricane.

The team is really looking forward to the race. We are trying to improve from last year's 3rd place finish (out of 250 teams). However, more importantly, the runners are excited that this year they will not only have a great and exhausting time running through New Hampshire but they will also be able to provide some assistance to the people impacted by the hurricane.

If you would like to learn more about the team or make a pledge per mile or other donation to the AFSC, please e-mail Sam McFerran '98 at smcferra [at] aol.com or call him at (202) 294-5437.

Students are organizing“Rock For Relief”
A silent auction/all-day concert to benefit the American Red Cross and victims of Hurricane Katrina. Founders Green (rain location: Founders Great Hall)
Sunday, September 25th 1-5 PM
Questions: %20%7Fhleichte [at] haverford.edu%20">hleichte [at] haverford.edu

Haverford Students to Collect Money, Materials to Aid Katrina Survivors
Haverford College students have joined together to raise funds and materials to aid the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. The drive is jointly sponsored by the Haverford College Democrats, the Haverford College Republicans, and Honor Council. In addition, funds were raised at several athletic events on campus over the past several days.

Haverford Facilities Management Team to Aid Hurricane Katrina Relief Effort
Haverford will send a team of skilled tradespeople and supplies to a Gulf Coast college or university in the near future to help with repair and reconstruction projects there.

Haverford's Eight Dimension to Help Katrina Relief Effort Over Fall Break
Haverford College's Eighth Dimension, the student volunteer program, will reach at least one destination in the Gulf Coast with its Housing Outreach Action Program (HOAP) trip during fall break, October 8 - 16.

For more information, please contact Marilou Allen at (610) 896-1183.

EgoPo, a New Orleans-based theater company, led by artistic director Lane Savadove '89, is presenting an innovative double production of Jean Genet's "The Maids" at the International House at the University of Pennsylvania through September 12 as part of the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. Most of the company have lost their homes and jobs, so please come support them at the Fringe Festival. The price of admission ($15) gets you one of the last bottles of Abita, a New Orleans-brewed beer and locally produced chips, and the cast serves up a Cajun dinner between the shows.