Princeton Community Rallies Around Turkey and Syria Amid Devastating Earthquake

The Princeton community has been mobilized in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, with students, faculty, and staff coming together to offer support and assistance to those affected. President Christopher L. Eisgruber praised the community's efforts, saying, "The way our students, faculty, and staff come together in times of crisis -- to organize, to aid and assist -- is remarkable."

Princeton's Undergraduate Turkish Students Association was among the first to respond, hosting a memorial to mourn the earthquake victims and organizing a campus-wide donation drive that collected 150 boxes of items. The group's vice president, Sena Cetin, expressed the motivation behind their efforts: "We couldn't have done it without so many people wanting to be there and working so hard... We want people on campus to be aware that this is affecting people around them, that this is not just an event in a faraway land."

The university's administration has also been actively supporting relief efforts, with the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students assisting with logistics and preparation of promotional materials for the donation drive and the vigil. Princeton's Office of Religious Life has been extending pastoral care to those affected by the earthquakes and assisting in the delivery of material aid. The Princeton Chapel congregation donated $20,000 to survivors through Save the Children.

Key Takeaways:

• The Princeton community has mobilized in response to the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, with students, faculty, and staff coming together to offer support and assistance.
• The Undergraduate Turkish Students Association has been at the forefront of relief efforts, hosting a memorial and organizing a campus-wide donation drive that collected 150 boxes of items.
• The university's administration has been actively supporting relief efforts, with various offices and departments assisting with logistics, preparation of promotional materials, and pastoral care.
• The Princeton community has supported previous humanitarian responses, including Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and the invasion of Ukraine.
• The university is expected to continue supporting relief efforts, with plans for direct rebuilding efforts, supporting those displaced by the earthquake, and potential new academic research collaborations.

Statistics:

• $20,000 donated by the Princeton Chapel congregation through Save the Children
• 150 boxes of items collected during the campus-wide donation drive
• $200,000 raised by academics and researchers at Princeton and other universities, to be distributed through the Research Institute on Turkey in New York

Sources:

• "Princeton Students Rally Around Turkey and Syria Amid Devastating Earthquake" (Princeton University)
• "Princeton's Undergraduate Turkish Students Association" (Princeton University)
• "Princeton University Undergraduate Turkish Students Association hosts memorial for earthquake victims" (Princeton University)
• "Princeton University's Response to the Turkey and Syria Earthquake" (Princeton University)
• "Princeton University's Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students" (Princeton University)
• "Princeton University's Office of Religious Life" (Princeton University)