Fractured relief

It's been more than two weeks since Hurricane Katrina left her mark on the Gulf Coast.

Despite numerous meetings among student organization leaders, UNC-Chapel Hill is struggling to coordinate its relief efforts.

"It's been very fractioned," said Adrian Broome, deputy student attorney general. "So many different groups want to help in so many different ways."

Just days after learning of the destruction on the Gulf Coast, more than 30 organizations came together to collaborate in Carolina Katrina Relief. Students went to classrooms soliciting UNC-CH One Card donations and set up areas in the Pit for cash donations - with the overall goal of raising $50,000 by Saturday. As of 5 p.m. Monday, $11,425.97 has been accounted for.

But Erica Curry, vice president of UNC-CH Red Cross, said it is difficult to know how much money truly has been collected.

She said almost 40 sheets with One Card donations have not been scanned yet because there are not enough volunteers.

Rebecca Wolfe, a graduate student in the chemistry department, said some don't even know that funds can be donated through the UNC-CH Red Cross.

She said the Association of Chemistry Graduate Students held a raffle and trivia night Thursday and raised $3,000 for hurricane relief, intending to donate the money directly to the American Red Cross.

Wolfe announced late Monday that the association would give the money instead to the campuswide relief effort after being put into contact with Curry.

Last week, organization leaders discussed the possibility of challenging alumni to match the donations collected by students.

But plans have hit a standstill because students have not received a formal go-ahead from the chancellor's office or the athletic department.

"Really at this point everyone is kind of on a holding pattern," Broome said. "They are concerned about alumni being asked for money from all different directions."

While UNC-CH continues working toward unification, other nearby universities have successfully coordinated their efforts.

N.C. State University students formed Compassion in Action and kicked off fundraising efforts at their season-opening football game Sept. 4. As a campus, NCSU has raised $48,000, said Will Quick, project coordinator for Compassion in Action. "We've had a lot of support from the administration."

Quick said members of Compassion for Action hope to raise $150,000 for hurricane relief.

And Duke University has raised more than $40,000 in donations.

"Although it seems like there are many, many projects going on - the campus is united in the sense that most, if not all the funds, are eventually going to the Red Cross," said Steven Lin, executive vice president of the Duke University Red Cross.

Elaine Tola, a program officer at the Carolina Center for Public Service, said she believes UNC-CH fundraising efforts will continue to come together in the coming weeks.

"I think everyone has really stepped up and been creative," she said. "I'd suspect there is going to be many more things coming down the road."

 

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.