SEMO students help raise funds for tsunami relief

The American Red Cross will seek donations from Southeast Missouri State University students next week to assist relief efforts for victims of the tsunami that devastated the Indian Ocean region in late December.

American Red Cross collection cans will be set up in the University Center, Dempster Hall and the Towers complex Monday through Friday. Donations also will be accepted Feb. 12 at the Southeast men's and women's basketball games against Tennessee State at the Show Me Center, school officials said.

During halftime of the men's game, a check in the amount of the donations will be presented to Mary Burton, executive director of the American Red Cross in Cape Girardeau.

Burton will forward the money to the International Red Cross to provide food and basic supplies such as tents and hygiene items, as well as basic health care for the tsunami victims.

Friends Without Borders, Southeast student athletes and students in the Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity are coordinating the effort.

Friends Without Borders is a student organization at Southeast that brings together international and U.S. students.