Subject: Haiti

As you are well aware, last Tuesday a magnitude 7 earthquake struck the island nation of Haiti. The stories coming out of Haiti are horrific: government dump trucks are dropping bodies in mass graves. Unclothed children are sleeping in streets. Those who are physically able struggle to find potable water.

This is a tragedy of catastrophic proportions.

Since the earthquake, international aid workers have worked feverishly to provide basic resources to Haitians. As we track updates on the internet or 24/7 TV coverage, we are inundated with evidence that the necessities of life -- food, water, shelter, and medical supplies -- are scarce. As the chasm between our lives at Caltech and that of the Haitians becomes more apparent with every passing day, it is clear that we can -- and must-- play a role in the recovery effort.

Our experiences at Caltech prepare us to make a productive and positive impact on the world. Let us show the Haitian people that we will not ignore our responsibility as citizens of humanity. That in their time of greatest need, the students of Caltech are not without compassion.

We have set up a website (http://act.pih.org/page/outreach/view/haitiearthquake/Caltech) with Partners in Health -- an organization that has been working in Haiti for more than 20 years. The website allows us to track donations and will show the progress we make toward our goal of $3,000. We encourage each of you to donate $5.

You can also join the national student effort to bring help to Haiti: As you read this email, similar campaigns are starting at Stanford, Dartmouth, UC Berkeley, Washington University in St. Louis, Portland State, and Rice along with FACE AIDS (http://assu.stanford.edu/haiti/partner_stats.php). You can also join the Facebook group (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=270220529496) or this Google Group (http://groups.google.com/group/college-haiti-relief-organizing) to join the discussion with other students across the country.

Sincerely,
Anthony Chong
ASCIT President

Jai Shanata
GSC Chair

Kunio Sayanagi
CPA Chair

If you do not feel comfortable donating to Partners in Health, you may also consider the following organizations: Direct Relief International, Doctors without Borders, MercyCorps, Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, or text "HAITI" to 90999 and $10 will be given to the Red Cross and charged to your cell phone bill. Read more about it at: http://www.state.gov/

Second term BoD meetings continue to be held on Mondays at 12:10 PM on the Olive Walk, with the exception of the following three Tuesday meetings: Tuesday, Jan 12th; Tuesday, Feb 23th; Tuesday, March 9th

ASCIT Board of Directors meetings will now be on Mondays at 12:10 PM on the Olive Walk. There are two exceptions first term: The week of November 16, the BoD meeting will be Wednesday, November 18. The week of December 7, the BoD meeting will be Wednesday, December 9.

Welcome class of 2013, and returning upperclassmen!

In ASCIT related news:
* We have booked Third Eye Blind for our much anticipated Fall concert on November 14th.
* The first ASCIT BoD meeting will be on Thursday, October 8th at 12:10 on the Olive Walk. Feel free to grab your lunch and join us!

As always, please come to any of us with your questions and/or concerns:
Anthony Chong, President (supporter of Rankmaniac 2010)
Andrey Poletayev, Vice President of Academic Affairs
Pallavi Gunalan, Vice President of Non-Academic Affairs
Michael Maseda, Director of Operations
Maral Mazrooei, Treasurer
Nadia Iqbal, Director of Social Activities
Laura Conwill, Secretary
Daniel Obenshain, Review Committee Chairman (who is a RankManiac 2010)

UPDATE: Due to complications with equipment, the ASCIT Screening Room is closed until further notice.

The ASCIT Screening Room, located in SAC 23, is now officially re-opened! Watch TV shows and movies on the brand new high definition projector and 7.1 sound system. Reserve it here.

You can check out shows and movies from ASCIT's extensive DVD Library, now housed in Sherman Fairchild Library.

This project was funded by a grant from the Moore-Hufstedler Fund.