Haiti relief impacts students

At 4:53 p.m., Jan. 12, 2010, the southern part of the island of Haiti saw a 7.0 magnitude earthquake and an estimated death toll of 170,000 .

In the hours following the massive quake, numerous task forces from nations across the globe – including the United States – rushed to the aid of the stricken nation.

But while the specialized emergency task forces and medical personnel headed to Haiti, the American public showed a remarkable response to the crisis through the channels of social media and technology.

Throughout January, the Facebook statuses and Twitter alerts of many Amarillo College students have encouraged donations and offered testimonials of action, response and reflection in regard to the catastrophe.

“I really feel for the people of Haiti,” said public relations major Zack Ambold. “This is one of the worst things that could have happened. It’s great the way the whole world has come together to help them in their time of great need.”

The Red Cross quickly set up a donation hotline where individuals could donate $10 by texting HAITI to an established line.

Rapper and contemporary hip-hop star Wyclef Jean and his foundation, Yele Haiti, sent mass appeals for donations to the public via Twitter and Facebook as well as a consistently updated blog at yelehaiti.com.

The recent “Hope for Haiti” Telethon led by Jean and film star George Clooney raised $57 million, excluding donations made by corporations and major businesses. Many AC students have participated in the fundraising events.

“The devastation of the Haitian earthquake is hard to even wrap my mind around, and the aftermath of the catastrophe even more so,” said journalism major Madelyn Bankhead. “I wish I could have been on the first flight there to provide aid. I did donate to the Red Cross through their text donation system.

The unusual level of mass solidarity and response from the American public toward international crises has not been seen in other recent catastrophes such as the 2004 Indonesian tsunami, to which the U.S. donated only $20 million. Observers have attributed the response to three decisive factors.

First is the increasingly accessible nature of news and those who report. The first to broadcast news and images of the disaster were not professional reporters, but survivors of the quake who sent messages through Twitter and other devices, which contributed to the urgent relevancy of the situation.

Second, the importance of social media helped document and share developments of the quake and kept readers and their communities current and aware.

Third, the immediate response and incitements to the public by President Obama and the country’s officials have established the tone of Haiti’s priority on the international agenda.

But at least one student has cast a critical eye on the nation’s response to Haiti. “I think our politicians are using our response to Haiti as an excuse to redeem America’s international actions,” said theater major Chelsea Bowen. “That country has always been poor and their people have always been homeless, and we’re just now helping.”

While there are no scheduled campus fundraisers in the near future, Bowen did offer a suggestion for college officials.

“Maybe they should put aside a percentage of all the money the bookstore makes and donate it.”

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