ACUHO-I News Blog

A body, likely that of one of the students from the Lynn University group who was in Haiti for a service-learning project, was recovered, and her parents were informed. The students and faculty members were at their hotel when the earthquake occurred. A layer-by-layer recovery of the hotel debris will begin soon. Three other students and two faculty members are still unaccounted for. One of the missing students had a 20th birthday was recently: A sawhorse on her parents driveway, with a sign requesting privacy, was festooned with Mylar balloons. Eight other students were found and have returned to the United States. Lynn University is maintaining a site with updates.

Colleges and Universities in the United States and elsewhere have tried, with limited success, to contact their Haitian counterparts, and students, staff and faculty traveling in Haiti. Lynn University in Boca Raton, FL, and the University of Florida have not been able to account for all their associates in Haiti.

A group of Lynn University students and faculty members had traveled to Haiti for a service-learning project; they were scheduled to return today. A friend in the Untied States received a text from one of the group members shortly after the quake saying the group was safe, but there has not been communication with them since.

The University of Florida has heard from two profesors in Haiti, but not from two journalism graduate students who were filming a documentary there.

After an anxious three-day wait, Blue Ridge University, in Weyers Cave, VA, received an e-mail that four people, two students, a faculty member, and staff member were safe.

Is your institution waiting to hear from someone in Haiti? Let us know, and know ACUHO-I’s thoughts are with you.