Today, student volunteers will set up booths on the UW-Madison campus to receive donations for the American Red Cross to be used for Haiti relief. Madison’s official student governance group organized the fundraiser, and some area businesses have said they will match any donations made at their storefronts. A group representative has said that if everyone on campus donates a dollar, they would raise $40,000.

Where is UW-Platteville’s response? Our campus community, in my opinion, is much more connected than Madison’s, yet they can organize a campus-wide fundraiser and I have not heard a single mention of Haiti fundraising from any UW-P campus groups.

UW-P has multiple ties to Haiti and the Caribbean. Aric Dutelle, a criminal justice lecturer, has taught Haitian police forces in Haiti’s capitol of Port Au Prince. UW-P’s education department has hosted student teachers from a teaching school in the Caribbean to broaden both their and our cultural awareness. UW-P also has five study abroad affiliate programs in Central America and the Caribbean.

Do not be apathetic about issues beyond campus. Yes, there are other ways to donate and others who are promoting this cause, but with this campus’ recent history of hate crime and racist graffiti, this would be a good gesture to show our surrounding community that we are positively concerned about others outside campus.

This is your call to action! If you are a group on campus and are organizing or even considering Haiti relief fundraising, let the Exponent know. By letting us know, you let your campus community know so they can join and support you.