Though the past two weeks have seen a widespread and popular outpouring of support for Haiti after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake rocked the tiny island, individuals and organizations on Grounds have not lessened their focus on helping to secure the devastated country's future.
According to the Hoos for Haiti blog, the organization has almost reached the halfway mark of its $100,000 goal. University graduate students helped organize a silent auction at Random Row Books and Physics Prof. Andres Clarens held a benefit at Fry's Spring Beach Club, netting more than $30,000 for Haiti.
Politics Prof. Robert Fatton said the abundance of aid Haiti is receiving, from the University and elsewhere, has been instrumental in rebuilding the nation so far, noting that personal donations, like those raised by several University organizations, are extremely beneficial.
"It's an outpour of affection for Haiti," Fatton said of the University's efforts, "and it's helping to alleviate some of the worst conditions imaginable."
Fatton, however, also warned that Haiti must not become reliant on aid, and should instead make it a priority to secure its infrastructure.
"The Haitian government is an empty shell, unable to provide the support that its people need. Haiti must form a sense of national unity; a government that takes legitimacy from Haitians and is supportive of its people," he said.
Christina Haden, a member of the University's chapter of the national aid organization ONE, said she, too, is worried about Haiti's dependence on foreign support.
"Debts incurred by loans for reconstruction could pose a serious problem in Haiti's future," she said.
The University's ONE chapter, Haden said, drafted a letter petitioning the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank to cancel Haiti's debts, and calling for businesses and countries to provide aid in the form of monetary grants rather than loans.
"Haiti [needs] to invest all their resources into education, health, the economy - rather than repaying new IOUs," the letter states.
In accordance with the University's ongoing support for the rattled nation, the University will host a panel discussion titled "Crisis in Haiti: The View from the Front Line" about the role of private businesses and non-profit organizations in this time of crisis. Event moderator and Darden student Paul Harper said the panel will discuss the proper role of American business in giving aid to Haiti, as well as the country's social and economic background.
"This is something that should be approached as an economic problem," Harper said. "Often private businesses are more efficient than government."
The panel, which will meet today in Abbott Auditorium in the Darden School at 4 p.m., will include representatives from organizations ranging from Bank of America to Save the Children as guests.
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