Center for Student Involvement: 330-672-2480

Updated Sept. 2, 2005.

The effort to collect money for victims of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina will continue Sept. 6 through 8, on Risman Plaza from noon to 2 p.m. each day, and at various locations around campus.

The Center for Student Involvement and University Dining Services, along with many of the university’s student organizations, started a collection effort last week.  The money will go to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

By asking each person on campus to contribute at least $1 each day, a goal of $50,000 is possible, says Della Marie Marshall, associate director of the Center for Student Involvement.

Student organizations and departments can come to the Center for Student Involvement in the Kent Student Center to pick up a collection box marked for the relief effort.  Students may be asking for donations in academic buildings, residence halls and other areas.

“People have been looking for a way to help, and the Red Cross has said sending money is the best way,” Marshall says.  “Any student group can contact our office and we will coordinate their efforts.”

In addition, you should know that Kent State is involved in other ways in the recovery efforts.

Kent State stands ready to help students who are displaced because of the hurricane. We are in contact with the America Council on Education and the Ohio Board of Regents to help place students whose colleges have closed because of the disaster. Our residence halls are at capacity, so we can likely be most helpful to students who have family in the Northeast Ohio area.

Some academic departments on our campuses also are planning to offer office space, where available, and Internet access to faculty colleagues from the affected area. This offer may have limited application but could be valuable for displaced faculty members with Ohio connections, but we already are assisting an international scholar. Similar initiatives can be reported to individual deans, chairs and directors.