By Tracy F. Harris

A tsunami destroyed thousands of homes in Asia on Dec. 26, and killed at least 150,000 people. Relief organizations around the world scrambled to help victims while U of L students were still at home. But even after getting a late start, students are still helping out.

The U of L United Nations Children’s Fund chapter spent the first two weeks of class tabling in the Swain Student Activities Center. As of the last week, around $600 or $700 had been raised, said chapter president Emily Clark.

However, donations were down from what some expected. In light of recent scams, in which people have been ripped off online or in person by “fake” assistance groups, Clark said she understands why some people might be leery of dropping off money in the SAC.

She said people may suspect the group is going to pocket the money, so she encourages people to send in money to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF Tsunami Relief. Donations can be made online at http://www.unicefusa.org or mailed to P.O. Box 98006, Washington, D.C. 20090.

Clark said the UNICEF chapter will continue to raise money for the relief effort. All the group’s fundraising activities for the semester will benefit the UNICEF Tsunami Relief Fund, at least until the national organization makes another project its top priority, Clark said.

To continue its fundraising efforts, the UNICEF group held a hunger banquet on Jan. 27. Surprising as it may was some, though, there was free food.

“It’s mostly an informational event,” Clark said. There were presentations, and attendees were encouraged to make donations to benefit the relief.

The banquet was held in the Red Barn.

The group also has several bake sales scheduled, including one today.

The Harry Pickens Trio hosted a jazz concert in the Comstock Concert Hall. The concert, titled “A Concert for Peace: Creating a Tsunami of Compassion,” was free for attendees, but donations were collected.

The concert used the “power of music, chant, song and silence” to support those who suffered the “loss of life, limb and love” during 2004, according to a U of L Netmail announcement.

In another effort to stir up aid from students and staff, the Indian Students Association is also featuring a large graphic on its Web site calling for donations through the AID-India program. The ISA could not be reached for comment, but the AID-India group (http://www.aidindia.org) had raised over $1.5 million as of Jan. 5, 2005.