Commi Ee for Haiti Relief Reminds Community There Is More to Be Done
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Volume 77, Issue 19 Smithfield, RI April 30, 2010 Day of Silence Commi+ee for Haiti relief reminds controversy community there is more to be done By Fira Zainal Staff Writer The National Day of Si- lence was started by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Educa- tion Network (GLSEN) and is a day that many universities and schools around the coun- try celebrate. This year the event was held on Friday, April 16th and promoted by Bryant Pride at Bryant Uni- versity. “On this day, individ- uals take vows of silence to represent the closeted gay students who feel they must be silent about their sexual- ity,” says Bryant Pride Secre- tary Jenna Morris ’11. “I personally think that being silent does not help solve issues with prejudices and homophobia; however, I still think it is a very impor- tant day that all students should take some part in. That is why instead of taking From L-R: Bailey Richards ‘10, Christopher Brida ‘12, Nicole Archambault ‘10, Johnny Wells’10 are a few of the students vows of silence, Bryant Pride continuing to work on assiting Haiti after an earthquake ravaged the country on January 12, 2010. decided to hang up various facts about gay students. I By Toby Simon ment plan. The plan is sup- takes place, a7ention must be the people who are giving op- think it was a different way of ported by international paid to the infrastructures in portunities to those in need. being silent, because the facts Staff Columnist donors and it includes a way the countryside—schools, As Secretary of State Hillary speak for themselves.” Consider these facts about to coordinate donor allocated health care facilities, eco- Clinton said “Talent is univer- However, the posters and the January 12th earthquake resources. Although donors nomic opportunities--which sal, opportunity is not.” post-it notes with facts that in Haiti: pledged more than $5 billion are in need of serious a7en- Last week I heard Robert were put up by Bryant Pride - 300,000 people died over the next 18 months, there tion. Maguire speak about Haiti’s in the Rotunda did not stay - 5,000 new orphans was agreement that longer- A civil service corps should reconstruction. He is a former up for other students to be - One million people are term strategies to revitalize all be created as a crucial part of State Department official and aware of the event. They were homeless of Haiti must be part of this the recovery and develop- currently a professor at Trin- taken down on the early - 10,000 new amputees plan. This includes a7ention ment plan. The irony is that ity Washington University in morning of April 16th by the - Overall damage and loss is to long neglected rural areas. in Haiti’s constitution it is DC. He gave me a copy of Executive Assistant to the 7.9 billion dollars Other recommendations wri7en that “all citizens are to his testimony before the US President, Dr. Roger Ander- - 100,000 university students from the March 31st meeting render civil service to the Senate Commi7ee on Foreign son. Following the incident, with nowhere to study include: state.” Relations. Bryant Pride members and These figures are staggering Donor funding must sup- Expanded microcredit is As he stated: supporters were le6 searching and overwhelming. Unfath- port public institutions, rather needed for those Haitians “If there is a silver lining in for answers on why such an omable. than being channeled almost o6en excluded from access to the deep dark cloud of Haiti’s incident took place. As a community we came exclusively through NGOs business opportunities. recent catastrophe, it is that Dr. Roger Anderson, how- together at the end of January (nongovernmental organiza- A conditional cash transfer this offers all of us—Haitians, ever, denies that taking the to talk about the earthquake tions). program should be set up in ‘friends of Haiti’ and those posters down was meant as in Haiti and to figure out Political stability during which people receive cash for whose connection with Haiti an act of censorship. He ex- ways to help in the recovery. this recovery period relies on agreeing to send their kids to may simply be as a bureau- plains that the posters and We had many fund raising the ability of the Haitian gov- school and get healthcare. crat or investor—an opportu- post-it notes were taken down events and a well a7ended ernment to become a more Rebuilding (or rebalancing) nity to learn from mistakes because of the strict Bryant teach-in. That was 3 months visible and active partner in Haiti’s economy must pay at- made in the relatively recent University policy that forces ago and sadly there are still the delivery of services. tention to sustainable, grass past and take steps that will the campus to comply with dead bodies in the streets of Transparency, accountabil- roots efforts to give Haitians rebalance that country so that the Rhode Island Fire Code. Port-au-Prince, hundreds of ity, and rule of law must be the skills and means to partic- it will move forward unequiv- “The policy of the college thousands of people living in part of the government’s role. ipate in rebuilding their econ- ocally toward less poverty is that postings of flyers or tents, and rubble and debris The country needs to be omy. and inequity, diminished so- posters of any kind are not everywhere. de-centralized. At present, Many feel that a key to cial and economic exclusion, permi7ed outside largely be- There has been some 40% of Haiti’s entire popula- Haiti’s recovery is to get capi- greater human dignity, a reha- cause of the Fire Code. movement in the planning of tion lives in Port-au-Prince. tal into the hands of grass- bilitated environment, Posters on the inside of win- what happens next for Haiti. The city can’t handle that roots entrepreneurs, whether stronger public institutions, dows (behind glass) are per- On March 31st there was a number of people which in- they’re still in Port-au-Prince and a national infrastructure Donor’s Conference in New cludes the 40 slums sur- or are elsewhere in Haiti. of economic growth and in- See ‘Day of Silence’ York which called for a Hait- rounding it. Cash must be put in the vestment.” page 3 ian led recovery and develop- As this decentralization hands of the farmers and to Amen. In this week’s Archway Bus iness - Strengthen your channel Spor ts - Lax wins over ranked Yale Opinion - Plastic in the Pacific Vari ety - Review: Death at a funeral page 2 april 30, 2010 A year in review from student leaders of ‘Bryant In Action for Haiti’ Nicole Archambault, ‘10 sult of this natural disaster, but raised over $600 to go towards the ease and maintaining health within through the dedication of Bryant Uni- Haiti relief effort. Our commi7ee, poverty stricken areas, Partners in What happened in Haiti on January versity as whole, we will continue to however, was merely the liaison be- Health plans to put all of the dona- 12, 2010 is truly horrific and devastat- do what we can to help in the restora- tween all other commi7ees, and we tions to immediate use. ing to a country that was already hurt- tion process. It is encouraging to would be remiss if we did not men- Students at Brown University have ing. In the face of this crisis, many know that $6,000.00 will impact the tion where the rest of the help came raised $25,000 for Haiti initiatives in members of the Bryant community lives of many in Haiti. from. the past five months. This feat was ac- moved to action. The “Bryant in AC- Another significant portion of our complished with numerous fundrais- TION for Haiti” commi7ee formed in Johnny Wells, ‘10 efforts came on the behalf of SASS and ing efforts throughout their campus. January and is comprised of four stu- the Young@Heart event, which raised Events included basketball tourna- dent leaders - Nicole Archambault, This semester, I had the privilege to over $1200. Throughout the semester, ments, yoga classes, a cappella con- Christopher Brida, Bailey Richards, have an integral role in the relief many organizations held events on certs, Greek life involvement, Haitian and Johnny Wells - with assistance group “Bryant in Action for Haiti”. behalf of Haiti, or adapted annual Flag Day, and a lunchtime benefit con- from Student Affairs directors Shon- Being a part of the relief group was a events so that the fundraising efforts cert. With all of their success and the tay King, John Lindsay, and Toby humbling experience because I was would go towards Haiti. Father Joe clear understanding that Haiti’s need Simon. This commi7ee has worked able to provide leadership in a cam- held a special collection, HEAL do- will not subside anytime soon, Brown throughout the semester to unite the pus wide collective effort to assist the nated the proceeds from condom students plan on continuing fundrais- efforts of Bryant University in con- victims of Haiti in their time of crisis. roses, the Townhouse RA’s sent out ing efforts well into the future. tributing aid to Haiti. Many students are aware of people in Valentine’s Day treats, the Vagina Boston University’s Boston Stands Bryant’s genuine interest to learn various situations like the devastation Monologues donated proceeds. The with Haiti organization has been ex- more, do more, and give selflessly to that happened in Haiti, but as an insti- Class of 2011, The French Club, ISO, tremely busy this past semester.