Several campus organizations came together Tuesday night to urge the Marquette community to assist the countries affected by the South Asian earthquake that hit in early October.
We L.E.A.D., which stands for Lead, Educate And Diversify, the Muslim Student Association, the Pakistani Student Association and the Pre-Health Society hosted a panel discussion and fundraising dinner to relay the magnitude of the disaster and to benefit the quake victims in Pakistan, India and Afghanistan.
We L.E.A.D is a new organization that promotes more diversity on campus and "goes beyond just the racial and color issues to sexual orientation and religion," said Jackie Zavala, a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences and vice president of We L.E.A.D.
Salman Gill, a junior in the College of Engineering and president of We L.E.A.D., set the tone for the discussion in his introductory speech.
"Tonight we are here to make a difference, which is what Marquette stands for," Gill said. "Be the difference. We see that everywhere. Now let's apply that here."
Tahira Chaudary, a freshman in the College of Arts & Sciences who grew up in Pakistan, was one of the panel members. Although her family was not harmed, Chaudary said her aunt's house was completely destroyed.
"All that remains are the memories of that place," Chaudary said. "I can never go back there and look at that place the same way and have the feelings I once had."
Abir Chudhry, a Marquette alumna and member of the Global Council of Pakistan, urged the audience to act.
"We need to continue doing as much as we can," Chudhry said. "We are very privileged to live in a place where everything is fine. We need to think about those who don't have what we have."
Other panel members included Tania Abbasi, a freshman in the College of Arts & Sciences, and Omar Irfan, assistant professor of theology.
The discussion encouraged students to take notice of worldwide disasters and be more open to offering assistance.
"Even though it didn't hit us at home, it did hit us at the same time," Zavala said. "Students were affected. People need to know and understand. We should all be more open-minded."