IU community follows up on tsunami forum

Members of various IU departments and student organizations met Friday at the Asian Culture Center to evaluate the IU community's efforts in assisting those affected by the tsunami that struck Southeast Asia Dec. 26. The meeting was planned as a follow-up to a Jan. 13 academic forum on the tsunami held at IU.\nThose who gathered discussed ways to develop some of the ideas, suggestions and pledges made at the academic forum. Representatives from the Union Board, the Athletics Department, the Office of International Services, as well as professors from various departments and a number of student organizations discussed how further assistance and relief could be garnered for the tsunami's victims.\nGeological Sciences Professor Michael Hamburger, one of the speakers at the academic forum, explained, "What we are hoping to do now is sustain the energy and engagement that was so well exemplified at the forum."\nAt the meeting, support was expressed for a proposed forum to facilitate community awareness of local relief and fund-raising events, and the organizations involved in those efforts. In addition, the possibility of holding another forum or a lecture series that would invite leading academics and experts to speak on the multifaceted aspects of the rehabilitation of the affected regions and progress of humanitarian relief efforts was suggested.\nDiscussion generated at the meeting examined the merits of greater coordination between organizations involved in fund raising and relief efforts, as well as the possibility of increasing the prominence of IU's tsunami relief Web site, which would consolidate information about the tsunami and various community efforts and events.\nHamburger said, "There is a lot of academic and community interest to help the victims of the tsunami, and this is a chance to sustain that energy and enthusiasm for what will be a long term effort."\nSenior and Indiana Public Interest Research Group member Michelle Kemp said her organization came to the meeting to discuss ways to engage the community. "We are brainstorming, getting ready to plan events, and trying to get the community motivated and involved," she said.\nAsian Culture Center Director Melanie Castillo-Cullather said she has received several inquiries from members of the community asking how they can help the victims of the tsunami. "The immediate topic that we would like to address is how students and community members can be involved," she said.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Rami \nChami at rchami@indiana.edu.