Tsunami Relief

Chancellor Vanderhoef forms relief task force

Jan. 3, 2005

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,

Such sad news intruded on the holiday season. Our U.S., California and UC flags are flying at half-staff this week in honor of the estimated 150,000 people who have perished in the wake of the massive earthquake that struck South Asia on December 26 and spawned violent tsunamis that swept across the Indian Ocean to the horn of Africa. Millions more are homeless or without food and shelter and vulnerable to life-threatening diseases.

The magnitude of this tragedy is simply incomprehensible. And its impact is global yet so very personal. My heart goes out to all those who have lost loved ones and who now live with uncertain futures.

A UC Davis Tsunami Relief Task Force, appointed over the weekend, is gathering information about campus community members with ties to the affected region and is discussing how the campus might best respond in both the short and long term.

We have preliminary confirmation that our education-abroad students are all accounted for and safe. We also have identified approximately 300 alumni, 200 alumni-scholars and 250 currently enrolled students and scholars from the countries suffering from this natural disaster. Additionally, we are exploring opportunities to partner on any city and regional relief efforts, to apply our academic expertise to assist in combatting disease and restoring the countries’ infrastructure, and to ensure that information is readily available through the campus’s home page.

Your further thoughts are welcome and needed. If you have information or ideas that would be helpful to our relief efforts, please contact task force co-chairs William Lacy, vice provost for university outreach and international programs, at wblacy@ucdavis.edu and Maril Stratton, assistant chancellor for communications, at mrstratton@ucdavis.edu.

You may have heard President Bush announce this morning that former Presidents Bill Clinton and George H. Bush will be leading a national charitable fund-raising relief effort. If you would like information about how to make a donation, visit the USA Freedom Corps Web site.

And, should you find counseling support helpful, please don’t hesitate to seek our counselors’ assistance. Students should contact Counseling and Psychological Services at 752-0871. Faculty and staff should contact the Academic and Staff Assistance Program, 752-ASAP.

Sincerely,

Larry N. Vanderhoef
Chancellor