Being a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison means meeting other students from all over the United States. From California to New York, students that bear the harsh winters to attend class come from one end of the country to the other. Regardless of where one resides, everyone has heard and seen the effects of the most traumatic natural disaster ever to hit the United States.
Hurricane Katrina has affected thousands of innocent and unsuspecting people, but its mark is not unique to New Orleans and Mississippi; it has had quite a ripple effect on people all over the country, including students at this school.
Families who have lost their homes and memories amid the once-rising waters are heading north for the winter, despite the distance and cold climate. At least 13 residents of the devastated city tolerated the 14-hour bus ride from Houston to their new apartments scattered throughout Madison. Local papers are printing day-by-day coverage of the disaster, and advertisements asking for donations have recently plastered television screens across the country.
Madison just held an entire media day dedicated to raising money for the hurricane. It seems like Madison is one of the many cities contributing to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. But do all of these TV-ads asking for money really affect students who are being exposed to them? Does watching TV after class or walking through Library Mall and seeing signs really make students stop and donate their cash?
Regardless of all the media attention, it seems as though students here are still detached from what is happening in their own country. If all of the news media and booths for the hurricane still can't attract college students, what can?
UW-Madison has done its part in starting to aid to hurricane victims. Recently, during the Sept. 3 football game against Bowling Green, Badger fans gave donations that quickly added up to almost $60,000 for The American Red Cross hurricane relief campaign. In addition, the school is helping affected students who were supposed to attend universities in the New Orleans area. Over 60 students were accepted into a variety of Madison programs. Despite the efforts of school officials and game-day fans, a great number of students who do not hold football tickets are still left out.
The best way to make the hurricane a reality for students here is to hold a campus-wide event where every student can get involved and help to make a difference. An event that is available to everyone is the most certain way to show that students on this campus — despite the physical distance — care about what is happening outside of our isthmus campus and want to help the victims.
Something as simple as a concert at Memorial Union or a contest and event in Library Mall might be enough to make the substantial difference that is needed. It is obvious that this campus has the ability to come together as one; it's shown every Saturday when a sea of red and white emerges onto the streets toward the stadium.
So instead of rallying about how racism is the salient issue in New Orleans or that the government should be blamed for not acting fast enough, let's instead focus on the fact that a natural disaster has occurred.
It is necessary for everyone to stop pointing fingers and instead lend a hand to resolve the problem that has affected thousands, including students here at the UW. This is not just New Orleans' fight; this is everyone's fight.
Estie Kruglak ([email protected]) is a junior majoring in communication arts.