The Hill, 2008 - Hoover Library - McDaniel College

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News around campus and beyond
An Offer That Won't Be Refused
While Cyclone Nargis was unJeashing winds, floods and high tidal waves
on his native country of Myanmar May 3, Lin Sun 00 was safe and dry,
studying for final exams on campus. But he was far from comfortable.
The worst natural disaster in the history of the Southeast Asian nation
had killed more than 100,000 people and his family was back at
home in the capital city of Rangoon. It took nearly four days to confirm
their safety, even though Lin's parents and other relatives
were not in the heaviest-hit delta region, because Internet
and phone connections were destroyed.
The junior environmental policy and phHosophy
double major launched the first phase of a relief
plan. In just two days, he raised $550 in donations
of loose coins through his "change for
change" campaign. When the semester ended,
he headed home with the money and an unyielding
resolve to help his displaced and starving
countrymen.
It was no simple matter. Myanmar's
isolationist
government was generally suspicious of large-scale, international
relief efforts, insisting it could take care of its own
people. Lin teamed up with 11 alumni from his high school- all
of whom were home from their studies in the States _ and 14 current
students to form a private group that was able to circumvent the restrictions
and offer direct aid.
With $5,000 in donations, they hired a truck and distributed rice and
lentils, risking their own safety to do it. They also awarded some of the
money to efforts like Project Shelter, which is working to quickly build
inexpensive, storm-resistant shelters .•
The Hill