Several Brandeis students have formed a relief committee to help the victims of the Haiti earthquake and are currently in the process of brainstorming fundraising options, J.V. Souffrant '13, one of the students involved in this effort, said in an interview with the Justice.The earthquake occurred last Tuesday in Haiti, with such disastrous repercussions as the death of over 200,000 people and the destruction of several major landmarks.

Souffrant, who is Haitian-American, said the first meeting was held Sunday, Jan. 17 and that right now the Brandeis students involved are looking for a unified way to raise money.

"We are looking to do one major event where the proceeds will go directly to the funds we choose to give," he explained.

Jonah Seligman '10, another student involved in the cause, said that the meeting focused on preliminary fundraising options such as a bake sale, dormstorming and seeking alumni donations but that nothing concrete had been decided.

"We want to create some ambitious yet achievable goal," he explained, adding that the fundraising goal would most likely be in the thousands of dollars but the actual figure is not yet definite.

Seligman said the students involved in this effort would be tabling in the Usdan Student Center to fundraise and that there would be a vigil tomorrow at 6 p.m. for the victims of the earthquake.

Souffrant said that several students raised the idea of helping to rebuild Haiti after the initial publicity from the earthquake has died down and that a portion of the funds raised would likely go towards this rebuilding effort as well as immediate relief. He also said the next meeting of the group is tentatively scheduled for Thursday. He said that many members of the Brandeis Haitian community are still in the process of grieving.

Seligman said that Student Union President Andy Hogan '11 and members of Waltham Group were invited to Thursday's meeting to ensure a unified effort to help the Haiti victims.

"Brandeis students are charitable by nature; I feel that I can make a difference here. The damage is unfathomable," he said.