Fundraising by various student and staff-led groups on the Columbia campus has raised $27,000 in contributions to the rescue effort and to the families of the victims of the September 11 attacks.

The latest drive includes $6,000 raised by Columbia's College Democrats and Republicans on Oct. 4 at a fundraising dinner to underscore political unity and express gratitude to the New York City Fire Department and concern for survivors of the victims.

The event, which was open to the entire Columbia community, featured speeches by Dean Lisa Anderson of the School of International and Public Affairs; former New York Mayor David Dinkins, Deputy Fire Chief Ed Dennehey and New York City Red Cross Team Leader John McGee.

According to Columbia College Democrats Vice President Jessie Daniels, the sell-out crowd of nearly 400, members of the Columbia community and event co-sponsors helped to raise $6,000 for the American Red Cross and the Firefighters 9-11 Relief Fund. Event co-sponsors included: Student Governing Board, Columbia Political Union, Engineering Student Council, Earl Hall, Columbia College Student Council, Student Government Association and the Office of the University Chaplin.

Other fundraising on campus:

• $6,000 raised by Columbia Business School toward the relief effort
• $5,000 at a fair arranged by an undergraduate group
• $3,300 at an ongoing donation center at Alfred Lerner Hall organized by the Human Resources department
• $6,000 in donations by medical students, which was then matched by the dean's office for a total of $12,000
• $4,700 donated by employees in the central administration building

The University donated heavy equipment and spent $30,000 to purchase additional equipment for the Fire Department for use in the rescue effort. Columbia is in the process of establishing a scholarship fund to attend the University for the children of those who died in the World Trade Center, both the children of those who worked in the building and of those who were part of the rescue and relief effort. The details have not been worked out yet but the fund is expected to range in the millions of dollars.

Many Columbia faculty, students and staff made donations directly to relief agencies such as the Red Cross. They also donated blood, collected coats, boots and other items for relief workers, and volunteered to help at the disaster site and at other locations, such as counseling centers for bereaved families.