TAMIU Professors Spearhead Information and Charity Awareness Panel for Earthquake Victims

A group of Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) professors will present a special awareness panel at the University to help draw attention to the devastating plight of recent earthquakes that have killed over 47,000 in Turkey and Syria.

The panel discussion, "Turkey-Syria Earthquake Relief Effort," is free of charge and open to the public.

The panel, scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 28 in Student Center 236 (Auditorium) at 11 a.m. will offer insight into the tremendous current and long-term impacts of the earthquakes, address the challenge of rebuilding, and help underscore the importance of charitable assistance.

Dr. Irma Cantú, Dr. Peter Haruna, and Dr. Virginia Berndt, TAMIU faculty members, said they were moved by the horrifying and continued devastation both Turkey and Syria are experiencing. They shared their concern with Dr. Huseyin Cinoglu, a native of Turkey.

“It seems that almost daily we hear of the impact of catastrophes on our planet.  One day it is Turkey…tomorrow it may be our own country.  It’s important that we realize the very real human impact and how we can all reach out to help our global brothers and sisters, no matter where they are located,” Dr. Cantu said, “We hope that this panel discussion will help to underscore the need for us all to simply help one another.”

Panelists will include Dr. Cinoglu, associate professor of Criminal Justice, originally from Turkey and a member of the TAMIU faculty since 2022. Cinoglu will speak of the personal tragedy of seeing his homeland destroyed by the series of earthquakes.

Dr. Cantú, TAMIU associate professor of Spanish, will discuss the difference between charity and solidarity and how charitable partnership and support are critical to recovery.

Dr. Haruna, who heads the University’s graduate program in Public Administration, will explore the arduous process of rebuilding not only physical structures to house the displaced, but of restoring systems and government services crucial to signaling a return to some sense of normalcy.

“These countries have endured real horrors, real losses.  Trying to rebuild and reclaim the lives these people once knew will be a long-term process, fraught with challenge.  From a public administration perspective, this will indeed be a generational challenge,” Dr. Haruna said.

Dr. Berndt, assistant professor of Sociology, will discuss the gendered impact of earthquakes.

Dr. Cinoglu noted that Turkey and Syria are no strangers to natural disasters.

"However, this last one dramatically surpassed its predecessors by any metric available. It is also beyond the coping capacity of governments involved. So, any type of help is direly needed for the survivors, rescue people and pets," he said.

The organizers have said they will also share opportunities for charitable giving to the ravaged nations by providing approved and vetted opportunities to do so online to help speed assistance to the area.

“The need is great, but if there is one thing that we know about Laredo, it is that it is a place of great compassion and great giving -- and we want to encourage both,” Dr. Cantú concluded.

For additional information, contact the TAMIU Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at 956.326.2180, email prmis@tamiu.edu or visit offices located in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library, room 268.

Donations to the Turkey-Syria Earthquake relief effort can be made via the following world organizations:

Charitable Giving 1: World Central Kitchen

Charitable Giving 2: The UN Refugee Agency

Charitable Giving 3: Doctors Without Borders

Dr. Huseyin Cinoglu

Dr. Irma Cantú

Dr. Peter Haruna

Dr. Virginia Berndt