How to Help Haiti at Harvard

Just in case you need some time away from your first problem set (or that paper that was assigned way too early), here are some good distractions for an important cause.

IN THE COLLEGE

Memorial Church is hosting a memorial service for the loved ones of students and employees of Harvard University this Thursday at 2 p.m. While probably one of the more sobering events this week, make sure to come and show solidarity with those that study and work around us.

Sanders Theatre is hosting a benefit concert from 7-9 p.m. this Friday featuring violinist Ryu Goto '11, pianist Charlie Albright ’11, jazz pianist Malcolm G. Campbell ’10, dancer Merritt A. Moore ’11, the Kuumba Singers, the Harvard Glee Club, the Harvard Caribbean Dance Team, and the Modern Dance Company. Tickets are $10 for students ($25 for adults) and can be purchased through the Harvard Box Office.

If you can't make any of this week's events, don't fret: Harvard Hillel is accepting pre-orders for the "Challah for Haiti," and you can still show your House pride by donating to earthquake relief efforts on the Harvard for Haiti site. Also, several Harvard organizations are sponsoring a drive to sell roses and donate proceeds to Haiti relief. Orders can be placed here.

IN THE SQUARE

Club Passim is holding a relief benefit concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday featuring folk artists. Donations will be collected through concert and raffle ticket sales. For more details or to purchase tickets, click here.

IN THE GRAD SCHOOLS

Harvard School of Public Health is hosting a "global chat" from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Wednesday with Stephanie Rosborough in the F.X. Bagnoud Building, room G-11. Rosborough, an instructor at the Harvard Medical School, is the director of the International Emergency Medicine Fellowship at Brigham and Women's Hospital. If you're afraid of missing out on lunch from the dining hall, note that "a light lunch is provided."

Harvard Kennedy School presents “A UNHCR Perspective on the International Response to Haiti: Challenges of Coordination and Outlooks on Future Cooperation" on Wednesday from 4-6 p.m. in the Carr Center Conference Room. You'll get to hear from the director of the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, the director of the University Committee on Human Rights Studies, and a representative from the U.N. Refugee Agency.

Office for the Arts at Harvard presents "Poets for Haiti" on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the Askwith Lecture Hall at Radcliffe Quad. With a suggested donation of $10, this is a great way to help Haiti, support the arts at Harvard, and finally sneak a peek at Robert Pinsky!

Harvard Medical School presents "Talks@12: Paul Farmer Leads a Panel Discussion on Haiti" this Thursday from 12-1 p.m. in the Joseph B. Martin Conference Center at the New Research Building. Professor Paul Farmer is the co-founder of Partners in Health and the Deputy UN Special Envoy for Haiti. In case you have class (or can't schlep all the way to the Longwood Campus), a recording of the event will be available here.