While the College has not received word of any members of the CMC community directly affected by the South Asia disaster, a number of communications efforts to confirm their status are ongoing, according to Torrey Sun, vice president for student affairs. "Like the rest of the world, we are waiting for additional information," Sun said. There are 108 students from South Asia, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, currently enrolled in The Claremont Colleges. Ten are enrolled at CMC, from India, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Thailand.
"Many have contacted us to let us know that they and their families are fine," says Charlene Martin, director of International Place for The Claremont Colleges. "But, of course, all are deeply concerned about the tragedies suffered by their countrymen."
According to CMC's study abroad office, there are no students from the College currently studying in South Asia. In addition, alumni from the region are being tracked by the office of alumni relations. According to director Elenor Taylor, the news has thus far been positive, with no reports of injury or loss.
Students and community members who would like to contribute to tsunami relief efforts have several options. In conjunction with Community Friends, the following recommendations from International Place are offered in effort to assist getting essential and immediate assistance to the afflicted areas:
Cash donations: Checks payable to the American Red Cross may be mailed to the Claremont branch at 2065 N. Indian Hill Blvd., Claremont, CA 91711. Write in the left-hand, lower corner: for "Tsunami Relief." Funds will be immediately transferred to the international tsunami relief fund.
Collections of new and used clean clothing, over the counter medicine, non-perishable food, and personal hygiene items, which will be sent directly to Sri Lanka, may be dropped off between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Red Cross office in Claremont, 2065 N. Indian Hill Blvd. (Donations should be marked for "Tsunami Relief," rather than for the Red Cross, as the official recommendation of the American Red Cross is to send financial contributions.)
The following Web sites also have established accounts to accept donations online:
Donations via credit cards: visit the International Red Cross Web site: http://www.ifrc.org, or the American Red Cross at www.redcross.org.
U.S. Fund for UNICEF: http://www.unicefusa.org, and OXFAM: http://www.oxfamamerica.org.
To learn more about disaster relief efforts:
The Web site http://www.interaction.org provides a list of more than 50 non-governmental agencies working on tsunami relief.