BY LINDA HOU

In print | Published February 4, 2010

In response to the recent earthquake in Haiti, groups such as Coalition for Free Haiti have been working to raise money for and awareness about the recent disaster. Furthermore, events such as film showings and a new course on Haiti hope to educate the campus about Haiti beyond the earthquake.

About eight Swarthmore students are choosing to take a course called “Haiti, French Antilles and Guyane in Translation” to learn more about Haiti.

This seminar course on translated Caribbean literature has been offered before. This year it was offered to students after the semester began, in part due to growing interest in Haiti after the recent earthquake. Assistant Professor of French and Francophone Studies Micheline Rice-Maximin, a native of Guadalupe who is teaching the course, plans to modify the content of the course to put a focus on Haitian literature.

“I think everyone just really needs to know their history and how strong of a nation it used to be so maybe you can help them rebuild it while still respecting their culture,” said Taryn Colonnese ’13, a student in the course. “Whenever you go help a country, you don’t want to just go with your ideals and implement them on that country. You have to know what their values and ideals [are].”

The course grew out of an independent study course on Haitian literature. Jacqueline Bailey-Ross ’12, who is Haitian herself, has been taking French Creole as an independent study from Rice-Maximin for the past two semesters. This year, while forming Bailey-Ross’ program for her independent study on Haitian literature, Bailey-`Ross and `Rice-Maximin realized that there is greater interest in this topic and chose to make it a course instead.

“It’s a monumental time for me and for Micheline. There are many other schools that are forming courses out of this, which is remarkable,” Bailey-Ross said. “[Haiti] was isolated for so long, to the point where not many people, very few people know its history although its history is very intertwined with other countries and is very important.”

Bailey-Ross is also the co-founder of Coalition for Free Haiti, which has been spearheading many projects for Haiti relief efforts.

The January 12 earthquake in Haiti is estimated by the Red Cross to have affected 3 million Haitians, according to CBS News. Bailey-Ross estimates that there are 10-12 Swarthmore students with Haitian heritage.

According to Bailey-Ross, Coalition for Free Haiti has raised over $600 so far in a raffle for Haiti relief efforts. According to Student Council President Rachel Bell ’10, Student Council also raised about $300 at Pub Night last week. It has not yet been decided which organization this money will be donated to.

Coalition for Free Haiti also has plans for more relief events as well as for general promotion of and education about Haitian culture and history. In addition to several events about Haiti during Black History Month, Coalition for Free Haiti will also host a Haiti Week in April. To raise money for relief efforts, the group plans for a benefit concert at the Lang Center as well as a Tri-Co ball. Swarthmore College and the borough of Swarthmore will also co-host a 5K race on May 1.

Other groups on campus are also choosing to help in their own way. The international students’ group i20 and Students of Caribbean Ancestry are planning an open dinner for Haiti. The Dance Department is also honoring Haiti in its Faculty and Friends Dance Concert on Feb 6. The performance is free, but there will be a collection of donations.

“Our dance program is focused on global discourse. That means the program that we make is directed toward helping students to understand other cultures,” said Sharon Friedler, director of the dance program. “Given that we have this faculty performance, and then the tragedy occurred, it seemed … appropriate to bring together with what we have to offer, which is dancing, with a need, which is fundraising.”

Despite the number of groups and events held for Haiti, both Bailey-Ross and Bell said that a major problem was the lack of collaboration between the various student groups and among student groups, the faculty and the administration.

“I think student efforts could be better coordinated, but [I] think we more so need to connect with faculty/staff who also have an interest,” Bell said in an email.

Bailey-Ross also stated that in addition to working collaboratively with the entire campus, she would like to see more long-term projects for Haiti rather than simply raising money for relief.

“We’re taking a lot longer than most campuses. There is still a lot of planning to do in terms of the college’s response. I just hope that we continue to collectively work together to raise awareness and fundraising,” Bailey-Ross said. “What I really hope is that there’ll be more of working together and a more long-termed joint effort.”

Vice President for College and Community Relations and Executive Assistant to the President Maurice Eldridge ’61 agrees with Bailey-Ross. He said that due to the number of organizations on campus and the number of people in the community, it has been difficult to organize everyone. However, he has been in talks with Bailey-Ross and the Lang Center in attempting to create a more organized method for Haitian relief efforts on Campus.

Bailey-Ross said that Coalition for Free Haiti is currently working to bring a Haitian author as a Cooper Foundation speaker next year. She hopes that the college will plan for long-term interests in Haiti, eventually with a Lang project that will send students to Haiti.

The course on Haitian literature will also be one way for students to retain their interest in Haiti. Bailey-Ross said that she hopes the class will become an entry point for students into Haitian culture and that those students will continue to spread interest about Haiti.

“I hope it’ll set a precedent in regards to classes [on] Haiti,” Bailey-Ross said. “I hope there’ll be more classes on Haiti and the Caribbean. I hope students will get a deeper understand of Haiti and pass on that interest to other students.”

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