Hurricane victims mourned

Students light candles to offer support to victims of Georges

Fifteen candles illuminated the night as Oberlin students and staff held vigil for the victims of Hurricane Georges.

La Alianza Latina, the Latino student organization, organized a vigil held on the front steps of Wilder Student Union last Monday night. The students and staff lit stick candles while handing out information regarding recent Hurricane Georges' destructive path through the Caribbean.

"Puerto Rican students requested that we do a vigil because they have relatives and people close to them who were affected," said college senior Adriana Lopez-Young. Lopez-Young is a co-chair of La Alianza Latina.

For five days, the hurricane swept through the Caribbean, hitting Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba, killing a total of 227 people and leaving over 800 missing. Problems are further complicated with severe crop damages and large power outages. Damage in Puerto Rico was estimated at $2 billion. "People were left homeless and were completely devastated," said Lopez-Young. "We've also recently learned from the New York Times that 150,000 people in Haiti were left homeless," she said.

To aid hurricane victims the students placed a small box on the ground to collect donations for hurricane relief agencies.

College sophomore Miguelina Zapata voiced her concern for her family members in the Dominican Republic. "I have family there from my mom's side but we haven't found out anything yet because everything is destroyed."

Assistant Area Coordinator Serjio Acevedo, who was also at the vigil, later described his reason for attending. "I don't have family there in particular, but I empathize with my friend's suffering. That's what brought me there." Acevedo brought up the question of 'are you your brother's keeper': the importance of caring for others. "It's all about looking out for humanity," he said.

After the students and staff were able to express their thoughts and prayers, the group walked through Wilder Bowl towards North Quad. Several of the students sang as they entered North Quad while others informed onlookers of the recent events and the purpose of the vigil.

Zapata carried two candles as she walked with the group. "I'm carrying one for the family members I've heard from but everything's destroyed. And I'm carrying another candle for the family members I haven't heard from," she said.

Candles in the wind: La Alianza Latina, the Latino student organization, held a candlelight vigil to remember the lives lost in the recent Hurricane Georges, which ravaged many Carribean Islands, causing billions in damages in addition to hundreds of deaths. (photo by Noah Mewborn)