Professors explain Haiti crisis

Drew University hosted a faculty panel on Haiti and the gobal efforts to aid the recent earthquake victims. Roughly 30 students and faculty attended the discussion Tuesday in the Learning Center.

The panel opened with Professor of Geology, Maria Morecini, describing the geological and geographical reality of Haiti, explaining that the building codes of Haitian buildings were not the cause of the earthquake’s collateral damage.

Morecini said that the earthquake’s magnitude could not be insulated against by any structural design.

Morecini then introduced Director of the Center for Civic Engagement Amy Koritz. Koritz spoke about Drew’s participation in both short-term and long-term aid strategies.
“Drew response has multiple fronts,” Koritz said. She and her team are working on long-term partnerships with legitimate aid organizations, Koritz said.

The first to speak on the panel was Rev. Franck Aguilh (T’03), who emphasized the historical context of Haiti.

“Those of us who know the history, while we say thank you, know that this was history in the making,” Aguilh said.

Aguilh argued that Haiti, the first independent black nation, was isolated by colonial powers due to racial discrimination.

“The problem is not so much the earthquake, but the underlying issue…This is a nation under siege from the day of its independence,” he said.

Following Aguilh was Assistant Professor of Anthropology Allan Dawson. He explained the social and racial development of Haiti: “The European powers did a good job of eradicating the indigenous populations,” Dawson said. “Haiti is a creolized society.” 
According to Dawson, a creolized society is one with people of mixed descent and a society and culture of mixed origins.

Dawson also said that Haiti is the “product of the plantation,” and discussed the slave trade and social and economic class distinctions.

Next was Training Coordinator and GIS Support Specialist Krista White (T’07). White explained that Voodoo is not a demonic religion.

White stressed the importance of tropes and stereotypes and how they were present but ultimately untrue.

“I will pay someone $100 to find me an article by an English-speaking author that does not include the phrase ‘poorest nation in the western hemisphere,’” White said, referring to a common stereotype about Haitians being “lazy” and “cursed.”

Associate Professor of Political Science, Carlos Yordan, spoke last, presenting his work: “The United States and Haiti: Politics and International Development.”

Yordan expressed hope for Haiti’s future and explained how Drew students can help.“The Americans can be, for better or worse, part of the solution,” Yordan said.
“The recovery of Haiti has to be done by the Haitians,” Yordan said. 

Carlos Gomez (’13) said this discussion made him want to become more involved. “My main idea is that ignorance is the enemy of innovation—I never realized there was so much racial disdain for Haiti. This strengthened my desire to help Haiti.”