Even before students arrive for the spring semester, several efforts are under way to help the victims of the Dec. 26 tsunami.

Closest to home is the chance to help one of Auraria's own. CCD student Petrus Tobing is here from Indonesia on refugee status. He has lost his father, grandfather, cousin and uncle—nearly his entire family. A surviving seven-year-old cousin, Hamier, is alone and traumatized. Tobing desperately wants to return home and find his young cousin but does not have the funds to do so.

To help Tobing with travel costs, Kim Poast, CCD dean of students, and Karen Bensen, director of Metro's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Student Services, have set up a memorial account with the Credit Union of Denver in the Tivoli. Bensen asks that donations be made as quickly as possible, so as to send Tobing home soon. Checks may be made out to: "Petrus Tobing" and either delivered or sent to Kim Poast, SC 301, box 200 or to Bensen, Tivoli 213, box 74. For more information contact Bensen at 303-556-6488.

Meanwhile Metro's Political Science Department and the Golda Meir Center will help coordinate campus fund raising efforts for the Denver Chapter of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. According to Chair Robert Hazan, who instigated the relationship, local UNICEF representatives will be visiting campus to present slide shows and discuss how donations to the child welfare organization can help the thousands of children grievously affected by the tsunami. "Later, we hope to bring in someone from the national UNICEF organization," Hazan said. This Week @ Metro will keep readers informed of upcoming events.

Also in the works is a plan to send a Metro State human services professor to one of the affected areas to offer post-traumatic stress counseling. "President Kieft expressed in Cabinet that the college needed to get behind the relief efforts, and this was one idea that we thought could make a difference as time goes on," said Cathy Lucas, interim assistance vice president of college communications.

However, an effort such as this requires the sponsorship of a U.S. senator from Colorado, which Kieft is pursuing.

"As everyone is aware, it will take years for the victims to recover from this disaster," Kieft said. "Lending the expertise of one of our professors in this way will be a meaningful contribution to helping people cope with the aftermath and getting their lives back."

For updated information on how you can help, including links to the top charities, go to
http://www.mscd.edu/news/tsunamirelief/