International Student Organization plans tsunami relief fund-raising event

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln International Student Organization and its special interest group, Tsunami Relief Effort, have organized a fund-raising event for Feb. 15 with support from the offices of International Affairs and the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. The event will be in the Union Square and the Union Plaza areas at the Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., and is open to the public.

The day will begin at 10:30 a.m. with a poster exhibit of the Dec. 26 tsunami disaster in many countries of South and Southeast Asia, presented by UNL international student associations. Representatives from affected countries are available for questions at booths that will accompany the exhibit. This exhibit will continue until 7 p.m.

In conjunction with the poster exhibit, individual country presentations will begin at 12:30 p.m. and last until 1:30 p.m. in the Union Square. A representative from each student association will present for 10 minutes on a topic related to the tsunami disaster. Questions will be answered at the end of each presentation.

In the evening, a candlelight vigil in memoriam to the tsunami victims will be held in the Union Square and then in the Union Plaza. A slide program will be shown, along with remarks from university officials and personal testimonies by representatives from different South and Southeast Asian countries. The evening will conclude with a moment of silence and a song.

The events are free. Hot drinks will be served. Donations will be accepted on behalf of the International Red Cross. The group will also be selling T-shirts as an additional fund-raising effort.

Tsunami Relief Effort was formed at the beginning of the spring semester. The objectives of the group are to increase campus awareness of global disaster issues and to invite members of the UNL and Lincoln communities to assist and support those affected by global disasters with various activities. The fundraising efforts for the tsunami victims will continue throughout the semester.

CONTACTS: Ekaterina Apostolova, International Student Organization President, (402) 436-7217
Patrick Kazadi, Co-Chair, Tsunami Relief Effort