Gallaudet responds to crisis in Japan

On March 21, President Hurwitz outlined Gallaudet’s response to the catastrophic events resulting from a major earthquake in Japan. His message follows:

Dear Campus Community,

In the wake of events resulting from a significant earthquake in Japan on March 11, 2011, Gallaudet University has been working with our Japanese students in an effort to provide support and to assist Japan in its overall recovery. The following is an update for our campus community:
All of our Japanese students and their families have been accounted for; the University currently does not have any students, staff or faculty studying or working in Japan. Gallaudet is offering support to our Japanese students through the Provost’s Office, the Counseling Center, Multicultural Office, and the Center for International Programs and Services (CIPS). University staff members who have previously lived in Japan are offering support as well.

Our Japanese students are working closely with Japanese Federation for the Deaf and our alumni in Japan to offer whatever assistance is needed. Japanese students at Gallaudet will conduct two presentations to inform and share their perspectives with the Gallaudet community. Presentations will be made on March 23 from 12:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m. in the JSAC Marketplace during International Awareness Week, and the week of April 4 during the Asian Pacific week.

We urge all members of the Gallaudet University community to support recovery efforts in Japan. Donations to the Japanese Federation for the Deaf and/or The Nippon Foundation CANPAN project are encouraged.

T. Alan Hurwitz

President