Gordon Hyppolite, a 2007 Syracuse University alumnus, was one of hundreds of people grieving for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti at a candlelight vigil Thursday evening.

So moved by the speeches he heard throughout the night, Hyppolite closed the ceremony with a spontaneous, improvised song in the native Haitian language of Creole, which he then translated to English.

‘Father, oh Father, where are you now? My family is crying, crying your name to help them make it through. The water’s gone. The food is gone. But Lord be within our hearts,’ Hyppolite sang.

Hyppolite’s uncle went missing in the magnitude 7 earthquake that struck southern Haiti Jan. 12, destroying the capital, Port-au-Prince, and claiming more than 200,000 lives. A 5.9 magnitude aftershock hit the country Wednesday morning, causing more panic in the capital. On Saturday, the Haitian government officially declared the search and rescue phase for survivors over.

The Haitian American Student Association, the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, the Caribbean Student Association, SU’s chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and Voice of Hope sponsored the vigil on the Quad in front of Hendricks Chapel to honor the victims of the earthquake. The evening featured songs, poetry, prayers and speeches. Food and clothing were collected, and $483.94 was raised to help the relief efforts in Haiti.

Much of the night was dedicated to praying for the safety of the survivors and for the remembrance of the dead. Leslie Johnson, a pastor at Tucker Missionary Baptist Church in Syracuse, led the crowd through prayers of mourning and a short sermon aimed at inspiring hope and understanding.

Johnson tried to make sense of the tragedy through the biblical story of Job, in which all 10 of Job’s children are killed in an earthquake. Johnson said the lesson we can glean from this story is that people must mourn for those that have died in order to deal with tragedies like the earthquake in Haiti. The story of Job also teaches to ask questions and to help those in need after the mourning process is done, Johnson said.

‘I want to suggest tonight that all of us, as we gather tonight and we hold these candles and flashlights, think about, ‘It could have been us. It could be you. It could be your family members,” Johnson said. ‘But I want to tell you tonight that God is an able God, and he is able to protect those men and women still being found and still being recovered from under debris. God is still working a miracle in their lives.’

There were also reminders throughout the night that the donations and remembrance ceremonies are only the first steps in a long process of rebuilding that Haiti will undergo.

Paula Johnson, a professor at SU’s College of Law, recounted the resilience of the Haitian people through a recap of their history. She reminded the crowd that Haitians were the first responders after the earthquake and that they have made every effort of keeping the dignity of their people through the chaos. In order to help with the long-term needs of the Haitian people, Johnson said, people will need to learn about their history and culture.

‘In the days, weeks and months to come, we must continue to work together to meet the immediate and long-term needs of the Haitian people, and we will do this by listening to what the people themselves say that they need,’ Johnson said. ‘Through it all we must remember that we are one. The Haitian people are us, and we are they.’

Hundreds of students turned out Thursday evening to support their affected peers and honor those who died in the Haiti earthquake.

Allison Forbes, a sophomore biology and political science major, said she came because she felt it was the one thing she could do to help the victims of Haiti.

‘I feel really helpless right now,’ Forbes said. ‘It makes me just think about all things I have and the little the things that we cherish here. These people have nothing. I feel bad, and again, I feel helpless.’

Martin-Abdul Davis, a sophomore finance major, came to the vigil and donated canned goods and clothing. He said he came to support the students affected by the earthquake.

‘I just thought it was the right thing to do,’ Davis said. ‘As a student of color, if I don’t come out to support something when my people are affected, then why should I expect anyone else to?’

Cathiana Vital, the president of the Haitian American Student Association, said she was touched by the success of the vigil. Two of Vital’s cousins died in the earthquake, and she said it was amazing to have the support of the university in lieu of being with her family.

‘Everything counts,’ said Vital, a senior marketing and accounting major. ‘Even if you can’t give and you’re just thinking about it, that counts.’

rhkheel@syr.edu

Published on January 24, 2010 at 12:00 pm