Posted on Jan 21, 2005

Murray State University’s student international community is spearheading a program to assist the tsunami relief effort. Murray is home to a number of students from Thailand, Indonesia and India. The Institute for International Studies, the Thai Student Organization and the South Asian Council are putting together a slate of fund-raising events that will appeal to university students, faculty and staff, as well as community members. Donated funds will be distributed between the Thai Red Cross, Save the Children Indonesia and aid organizations in India. The effort has already begun with donation stations around campus. Members of the campus community are asked for any size donation — from pocket change to larger contributions. Those wishing to donate money using a personal check or to give larger cash donations may do so at the Institute for International Studies in Woods Hall. Bids for items donated to a Silent Auction will be taken from Jan. 24 through noon on Jan. 28. The Silent Auction is being conducted in the Curris Center Rocking Chair Lounge. Items up for bid have been donated by faculty, staff, students and community businesses. In the silent auction, potential buyers can view the items in the Curris Center and write their name and bid on an accompanying sheet of paper. Others can then see what the last bid was and place their name and a higher bid on the paper. Individuals can then keep bidding on the item they wish to purchase. All Silent Auction items must be paid for and picked up by Feb. 4. In keeping with the project, the items have an international flavor to them. A number of items from Asia, as well as other parts of the world, offer the opportunity for bidders to “go global.” More than 80 items have been donated to the auction so far, including Thai statuary, Japanese Kutani pottery, calendars from Cyprus, Thai silk items and Korean dolls. A spin on a traditional American fund raiser, an international bake sale will be held in the Curris Center on Wednesday, Jan. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A Tsunami Forum and Live Auction on Thursday, Jan. 27, at 6 p.m. will give Americans a personal look at the tsunami disaster. The forum will be held in the Freed Curd Auditorium in the Collins Center for Industry and Technology on campus. Forum speakers include Wirawan Wijaya from Indonesia, Kamala Suwansukho of Thailand, Erwin Tio from Indonesia, and Guatham Rao of India. Dr. George Kipphut, an MSU geosciences professor, will also participate in the forum. Wisanu “Aik” Krutnogoen, liaison for international relations in the Institute for International Studies, will serve as forum coordinator and a participant. “This forum will raise an awareness that what happens on one side of the world affects the whole world,” said Krutnogoen. “This effort helps to internationalize MSU.” Suwansukho and Tio were both in their home countries of Thailand and Indonesia, respectively, when the earthquake and tsunami occurred, although both were in areas that escaped the devastation. Rao and Wijaya had remained in the U.S. over the holiday break. Wijaya comes from a small island close to the epicenter of the earthquake — an island that was spared the tsunami. “I am a mountain boy,” Krutnogoen said, referring to the northern part of Thailand from which he hails. “We avoided the damage in that area.” Personal stories will be shared during the forum, along with images of the area and an explanation of what a tsunami is and how often they occur. Following the forum, approximately 10 donated international items will be auctioned off. These “very nice” items, Krutnogoen said, are expected to fetch higher bids than some of the Silent Auction items. The items at the forum include a wooden Buddha and golden deer from Thailand, a silver statue of a Hindu god from India (considered an image of good luck) and a Thai dinner for two prepared in the buyer’s home (within Calloway County) by students from Thailand. MSU students, faculty, staff and area community members are encouraged to attend this informative session and the auction that follows. Cash or checks only will be accepted as donations or payment for auction items; however, donors may use credit cards if they wish to donate to the organizations directly. Donations can be made on-line to the Thai Red Cross at http://www.redcross.or.th/english/donation/moneydonate.php4 or to the Save the Children Indonesia organization at https://secure.ga3.org/01/support_now?stationpub=000000.