Tsunami relief site pulls together CU- related efforts

Students and staff all over Cornell have responded to the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster with fund-raising efforts and educational and research programs. To help bring all these efforts together, the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) has created a Web site at http://tsunamirelief.cornell.edu.

"We hope that visitors to this site can find out what efforts are being made and how to get involved," said ISSO director Brendan O'Brien.

Some 20 to 25 different student organizations are conducting fund-raising or educational events, many under the auspices of CU Tsunami Relief, a student organization created shortly after the Dec. 26 event.

The idea for the Web site began when CU Tsunami Relief requested permission to create a university-hosted Web site. Susan Murphy, vice president for student and academic services, asked the ISSO to design and manage a site that would be inclusive of all groups active in tsunami relief fund-raising, research and programs. The web designers were Sarah Hilsman, assistant director for student immigration and web manager at the ISSO; Kenny Lim, a senior in engineering and ISSO student program assistant; and Kelley Sullivan, a technical consultant in the University Registrar's Office.

The site lists all Cornell fund-raising activities, a list of national and international organizations accepting donations for tsunami relief, and volunteer opportunities. It also provides links to local research on tsunami effects and news items.