Berkeleyan
Berkeley students united in tsunami-relief efforts
Ribbon sales, a dinner, live outdoor music, a 5K run . . . all for UNICEF
| 09 February 2005
More than 35 student groups at Berkeley are joining forces this week to raise money for tsunami relief. Proceeds will be given to UNICEF.
Student groups on Sproul Plaza are already selling light-blue wristbands that read “Hope for Recovery” (the collective rubric for this week’s events) for a $1 or $2 donation. Modeled after the popular bright-yellow Lance Armstrong “LiveStrong” wristbands, they are the brainchild of two Berkeley students who are members of Indus, an Indian student group, and several of their friends at other colleges. The group formed ahopeforrecovery.org, bought 10,000 of the wristbands at 50 cents each, and plans to sell them at approximately 28 colleges nationwide through affiliated student groups.
Other student groups are selling light-blue ribbons for donations of 50 cents or more. The campus’s fraternities and sororities are holding a competition to see which of them can raise the most money, as are the student housing cooperatives. The residence halls are holding various events, including a dance, to raise funds.
On Monday a panel of student speakers on Sproul Plaza addressed how the tsunami affected them. On Tuesday night a candlelight vigil was held on the plaza, with a slide show of scenes from tsunami-affected areas. And on Wednesday, in an event called “Tsunami Reflections,” students used black posterboard and chalk to publicly display their thoughts in places around campus.
Other events this week include:
Thursday, Feb. 10, Pauley Ballroom, 6-9 p.m.: A $10-a-plate charity dinner will feature performances by campus dance groups representing affected regions.
Friday, Feb. 11, Lower Sproul Plaza, 5-7 p.m.: A charity concert will feature local bands Urban Achievers and Solari as well as speeches from students directly affected by the tsunami. The concert is free, but donations will be accepted.
Saturday, Feb. 12, Sproul Plaza, 10 a.m.-noon: A memorial 5K run begins and ends at Sather Gate and will be followed by a concert featuring local bands.