Time really does fly when you are having fun.
Labor Day has already flown by, the first week of classes has wound down and professors are already passing out revised syllabuses faster than the most organized student can re-arrange their agenda.
Skyhawk athletics are already in full swing, and students involved in Greek life are surrounded by constant activities vying for their attention, especially as Homecoming Week looms ever closer.
Combined with the glow Martin’s annual Soybean Festival leaves on our town, there are more than enough things to focus on to keep us locally grounded.
Yet this is not the case for every college campus right now. While we are stressing about part-time jobs or upcoming Quad City booth plans, thousands of students in the Southeast U.S. are worried about the safety of themselves and their loved ones.
The devastation of Hurricane Harvey was extensive and widespread. Citizens of Houston faced things that many people could not imagine – losing your home, family members, valuables and more. According to NBC 5 News, the death toll has reached a count of 70 victims.
The category 4 storm dropped a record 52 inches of rain. Mashable.com guesstimates this to be close to 19 trillion gallons of rainwater and claims this is greater than any previous tropical storm. The images of flooding have circulated nationwide and to make things worse, there have been two chemical explosions at a plant in Crosby, TX.
With no time for things to quieten, Hurricane Irma has begun to wreak her havoc. Â It has hit the northeast Caribbean and will move up Florida by Sunday. Evacuations have already begun.
During this time, we should stop and be grateful for what we have and extend a hand to those that are in need when we can. Â Yes, we have our hardships, but they are nothing compared to this.
We live in a safe town, on one of the safest campuses in the country. We attend a good school, with faculty, staff and administration that truly care about us and our education. Our police are respectful and do not violate our rights. We have opportunities to attend free festivities and musical events and to live our lives without the concerns that others may have.
However, through every disaster, we are here to help one another when the unthinkable happens, no matter what. Â To learn more about the Red Cross and natural disaster relief, and how to find out how you can help those affected by recent hurricanes, please visit their website at www.redcross.org.
