CONTACT: Lauren Smith, Student Body President, 515-271-4555, lauren.smith@drake.edu; Katie Knorovsky, 515-271-1834, katie.knorovsky@drake.edu
Drake University students are joining a multi-university outreach project, Paper Cranes for Virginia Tech, and will gather to craft origami paper cranes from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, April 19, on Pomerantz Stage in Olmsted Center, 29th Street and University Avenue.
The cranes will be sent in care packages to the Virginia Tech community along with letters of support from Drake organizations, students, faculty and staff. Drake’s Student Senate is sponsoring the Drake effort.
Origami paper cranes are an international symbol of peace that originated with a Japanese legend that says anyone folding 1,000 paper cranes is granted a wish.
In addition, Drake’s Residence Hall Association (RHA) is collaborating with other universities to support the 300 people who work in Residence Life at Virginia Tech, as one of the first casualties in Monday’s tragedy was a resident assistant. RHA is gathering cash donations to create care packages that will be sent Monday, April 23. Monetary donations are being accepted by all Drake resident assistants until 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 20. Checks can be made payable to Lorissa Lieurance. For more information, contact Tiffany Mauch at tsm003@drake.edu.