ISU students and faculty members gathered Wednesday to pay respect to victims of Hurricane Katrina and to foster support for those in need, left devastated by the disaster in the southern United States.

“Those most affected by Hurricane Katrina are in predominantly black communities, and this vigil was an opportunity for us to show our support and show that we can really make a difference,” said Ashley Wilson, senior in communication studies and Big 12 delegate of the Black Graduate Student Association.

The vigil was a joint event, brought to the university by the Big 12 Council, Black Student Alliance and the Student Union Board. It was one of 10 regional vigils.

The vigil is supposed to focus on the loss of culture of the black communities affected by the hurricane, said guest speaker Ako Abdul-Samad, CEO of Creative Visions, a community center for disadvantaged youth in Des Moines.

“This vigil is to not only show support for those American citizens left devastated by the hurricane,” he said. “We need to reach beyond our personal pain and loss, to make sure that our community – and no other community in America – ever be so abandoned again in the future,” Abdul-Samad said.

Abdul-Samad emphasized the importance of recognizing the extent of the hurricane disaster in black communities. He said the country was only focusing on the loss of property of the individuals, not the loss of culture.

“These people haven’t just lost their homes and all of their possessions, but people are being mistreated and their human rights are being violated,” he said. “This is the hurricane that was never addressed in this country.”

One of the most important aspects of appropriately responding to the natural disaster is bringing people together and fighting for a cause, Abdul-Samad said.

“The majority of us so easily forget about the issues that people affected by the hurricane face,” said Tamim Mahayni, senior in biology.

He suggested ISU students respond by developing a stronger sense of understanding of students in regards to the civil rights of black people. The key to this is listening.

“But people can’t come together until they understand who they are. There are still people out there that have no idea who they are,” he said. “Do you know when similarities really have substance? When you know the differences.”