Once again, Universidad de Santiago responds to “the appeal for help from the Chileans affected (by floods and mudslides in the north of the country). And the primary reason for responding is that we are a state and public university that is committed to society and common wealth,” President Juan Manuel Zolezzi said.

“Our university cannot ignore an emergency situation like this, so we invite everyone to participate in this solidarity campaign,” he stressed during a coordination meeting with Manuel Arrieta, the Vice President of Student Support; Marta Matamala, the President of Feusach, and Diego Flores, a Student Senior Adviser.

The purpose of the campaign is that all members of our university community contribute with five-liter bottles of water, that are essential good for the affected people in the Antofagasta and Atacama regions.

Besides, the university continues collecting basic medicines, non-perishable foods, infant formula and baby food, batteries, diapers (both for adults and children) and basic cleaning supplies, in Room #511 (at the EAO facilities), at the Vice Presidency of Student Support’s Office and at the campus main entrance. The goal is to send soon a truck with a shipment of 10 tonnes of goods to help people in the north.

Historically, our University has contributed to society in national emergency situations. This time will not be the exception.

Facing the tragedy occurred in the north of Chile for the heavy and unusual rains, our University has started a solidarity campaign to help people affected by this tragedy. 

The challenge is to fill a ten-tonne-capacity truck with basic goods, like non-perishable foods, blankets, mattresses, diapers (for adults and children), cleaning supplies, pet food and, mainly, bottled water. The truck is expected to leave Santiago on April 02^nd for Atacama and Antofagasta.

With this idea in mind, Dr. Juan Manuel Zolezzi, President of Universidad de Santiago; Manuel Arrieta, Vice President of Student Support; Marta Matamala, President of the Feusach (the University Students Federation), and Diego Flores, a Student Senior Adviser, met on April 31^st. They invited the University community to contribute to the campaign. Donations are being collected at three different points: Room #511 (at the EAO facilities), at the Vice Presidency of Student Support’s Office (Paseo Los Naranjos) and at the campus main entrance (Av Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins 3363, Estación Central). 

Social commitment

During the meeting, President Zolezzi highlighted once again that Universidad de Santiago responds to “the appeal for help from the Chileans affected (by floods and mudslides in the north of the country). And the primary reason for responding is that we are a state and public university that is committed to society and common wealth.”

“Our university cannot ignore an emergency like this, so we invite everyone to participate in this solidarity campaign,” he said, referring to students, administrative staff and academics.

“I invite each member of this community to collaborate with this first step: the most urgent supporting help. We want to focus on the motto “one community member, on bottle of water”, in addition to all the other contributions the community may want to make,” Dr Zolezzi added.

For her part, Marta Matamala, President of the Feusach, said that solidarity is a “basic pillar” for building a fairer society.

“Our University is unique in its social role. We are future professionals, with a commitment to society. Being touched by people in precarious situations is an essential part of the imprint of this University,” she said.

Volunteers

Besides sending basic goods, the University Presidenct, the Feusach and the different faculties are evaluating the possibility of doing volunteer works in the affected areas.

President Zolezzi said that he is in contact with Universidad de Atacama, a former campus of Universidad Técnica del Estado, “because we feel morally committed to it,”  to define the areas of greatest needs.

The School of Medicine, the School of Obstetrics and Child Care, and the School of Psychology are among the schools and departments that could initially contribute by sending student volunteers.

Translated by Marcela Contreras