Jason Koski/University Photography

Members of Baraka Kwa Wimbo sing in honor of the victims and survivors of the Haiti earthquake during a vigil in Sage Chapel Jan. 28.

"This evening, the Cornell family includes all of those in Haiti," said Provost Kent Fuchs Jan. 29 in Sage Chapel at a candlelight vigil to mourn the victims of the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this month.

The earthquake has left an estimated 150,000 people dead, a quarter of a million homeless and a million in need of assistance.

"We are responsible for each other worldwide," said President David Skorton. "We are our sisters' guardians, we are our brother' keepers, and we cannot stand idly by."

Reginald Severe '11 recounted his experience in Haiti during the earthquake that destroyed many parts of his home country. "None of us could have imagined that in a matter of minutes everything that we knew and loved would completely disappear. On January 12th, we lost everything."

However, he has faith, he said, in his nation's ability to recover from the disaster.

"I've come to realize that the misery and the pain will not last. Haiti will rise again, stronger and even more beautiful than she was before," Severe said.

Civil engineering professor Kenneth Hover spoke about the week he spent in Haiti after the quake to help evaluate victims and document the damage. His slideshow showed wrecked homes, the chaotic living situation and signs made by the Haitians asking for food and water. He noted, "Even though the infrastructure did not perform in a tough and resilient manner, the people of Haiti did in a very profound way."

Hover stressed the importance of giving help even from afar and noted the "oasis" that is the GHESKIO medical clinic in Port-Au-Prince, which is affiliated with Weill Cornell Medical College.

"People need our help, and we can provide it," Hover said.

Rev. Kenneth Clarke Sr., director of Cornell United Religious Work, said, "May the power that has sustained Haiti for 206 years as it has faced mountain after mountain help us stand up once more and show our power."

The vigil was sponsored by CURW, the Haitian Student Association, Alpha Phi Alpha, Phi Beta Sigma, Sigma Alpha Mu and Cornell Hillel.

Hover will present his slide show, "Glimpses of Damage and Current Human Conditions in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti," today (Jan. 29) at 4 p.m. in B14 Hollister Hall.

Kristen Tauer '10 is a writer intern for the Cornell Chronicle.