The 91短视频 community is sending out prayers to the people of Haiti and offering ways for the campus community to support relief efforts in the wake of a 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti on Jan. 12, 2010.

“We have alumni and current students with connections in Haiti,” said Ken L. Nafziger, vice president for student life. “We want to support and encourage them, as well as provide ways for all students to feel empowered to do something in what can feel like a hopeless time.”

The community is invited to share thoughts and prayer concerns on the .

Collection baskets

91短视频 will set up collection baskets around campus for contributions to support Haiti relief efforts. Monies collected will benefit organizations such as , the relief, service and development agency with a long history in Haiti and with many 91短视频 connections.

Collection baskets will be located in the Student Life Suite (), Business Office (), and front reception desk at .

Group prayer vigil

For those who wish to participate in group prayer, there will be a prayer vigil for Haiti held in the Campus Center Greeting Hall at 10:30 a.m. immediately following University Chapel on Wed., Jan 20. It will be led by campus pastors and student pastoral assistants.

Respond during basketball games

91短视频’s next and games at home will provide another giving opportunity. Donations will be collected at half time of the games on (men’s game) Wed., Jan. 20 and (women’s game) Fri., Jan. 22 in Yoder Arena in the University Commons (see campus map).

Donations

Cash or checks for 91短视频’s Haiti response are welcome. Make checks out to ‘91短视频 Haiti response.’ Drop them in a collection spot on campus or mail them to 91短视频 Development Office, 1200 Park Road, Harrisonburg VA 22802. The full contribution will go to trusted partner agencies in Haiti.

Other opportunities across campus will be posted as they are determined. These may include conversations and learning opportunities about the country of Haiti, its economy and infrastructure, prayer, reflection, assembling of material resources and more. Student groups such as the Student Government Association and Young Peoples Christian Association will spearhead events.

You can view a short video by a Mennonite Central Committee worker in Haiti:

Questions about 91短视频’s response can be directed to the Student Life office at (540) 432-4135.

The United States government has named restorative justice expert Howard Zehr to be one of six members of a new Victims Advisory Group, a move that represents a major step toward addressing the needs of victims at the federal level.

“I am pleased that U.S. Sentencing Commission has made this effort to represent victim concerns and honored to be asked to serve,” said Dr. Zehr, a professor at 91短视频 who is often called the “grandfather” of the worldwide restorative justice movement. Learn more about peacebuilding programs at 91短视频…

In his dozens of books and journal articles, Zehr has argued that crime victims are better served by having their emotional, spiritual and physical needs addressed than by vengeance wreaked on the offender. He also believes, however, that the offender should be held “accountable” for the harms of his or her crime and should make amends to victims to the extent possible.

The Victims Advisory Group will be under the umbrella of the United States Sentencing Commission, which develops the national sentencing policy for the federal courts. The Commission was established in 1985 to ensure that similar offenders who commit similar offenses receive similar sentences.

In an official statement posted recently on its website, the U.S. Sentencing Commission said the six group advisory group members “were selected from a broad array of applicants, with the aim of providing the Commission with a victim-centered perspective on federal sentencing issues and providing a key educational role in disseminating sentencing-related information to victims groups and other interested advocacy groups.”

Zehr’s fellow committee members are: Mary Lou Leary, executive director of the National Center for Victims of Crime (chair); Douglas E. Beloof of Lewis and Clark Law School; Russell P. Butler of the Maryland Crime Victims’ Resource Center; Montie R. Deer, former Assistant U.S. Attorney; and Pat Sekaquaptewa of the Nakwatsvewat Institute.

Read about 91短视频’s Center for Justice and Peacebuilding…

Anne Figge is used to the reaction when she answers the question, What did you major in?

“I can