Remember that hurricane in 2005? The hurricane that swept through the Gulf and tore the coast to total pieces. The one that left thousands homeless, wounded and in desperate need of aid. The one that made our fellow Americans start from scratch and subsist at the charity of support they could find. They called it Katrina.
The media has nearly forgotten Katrina. Its 15 minutes of fame is old news by now and the horrific statistics have ceased to shock American viewers. The news has stopped reminding us of the rubble that remains, the lives that are still in shambles. But the victims haven't forgotten. Even today, a year and a half later, the Gulf Coast residents face the harsh reality that life may never go back to how it was pre-Katrina - that loved ones, homes, pets, possessions and memories lie in the nightmare that shook the Gulf. They haven't forgotten. They can't forget.
And neither can we - their friends, neighbors and countrymen. After the initial crisis that was deemed the worst natural disaster in U.S. history, Americans rose to the call with record-breaking support. Hoards of volunteers fled to the scene, and we emptied our wallets without hesitation.
Now, though the need of support remains enormous, support and volunteer work has declined dramatically. As a nation, as a community, as a campus, we simply cannot afford to forget the continuing need of Katrina victims. The friends and family of the 1,600 fatalities from the hurricane are still mourning the loss of loved ones. Among the 200,000 destroyed homes, thousands are still just piles of wood and debris. Many of the one million displaced residents are still trying to find their footing.
A recent article in USA Today stated that college students have been the "backbone" in the effort to rebuild the Gulf. This spring break, Miami University students are deciding to do something. The goal is to unite diverse groups of this campus into one humanitarian act. Putting aside our separate campus activities that can often define us (and that can unfortunately separate us), the goal is to make a difference - as a unified Miami effort. Anyone with the heart to serve is encouraged to go. Even if you already have spring break plans, your financial support for the Miami effort will help your classmates and friends. Every bit of support will fuel the Miami/Katrina efforts. In comprehensible college terms, the simplest donation of a Natty case's worth (around 10 bucks) is enough to provide a Katrina victim with a decent meal. Ask yourself, is serving a stranger worth the sacrifice?
For information about volunteering spring break or making a donation to Miami's cause, log onto www.buzzmiami.com/katrina or e-mail miamikatrina@gmail.com. Remember that hurricane? Show the victims we haven't forgotten.
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