Brooke Schmill
Bschmill@uwyo.edu
University of Wyoming students have started a fundraiser to help with the lead water crisis taking place in Flint, Michigan.
Taylor Albert, treasurer for the United Multi-Cultural Council (UMC) and Tess Holms kick started the Change for Change fundraiser.
Personal donations, Registered Student Organizations (RSO’s) and other groups around the University of Wyoming campus have raised and donated monetary pocket change for the cause.
“There is outreach to RSO’s, setting cans around campus, tabling and spreading awareness. I am helping however I can,” Holms said.
Albert said this is an issue economically.
“People in Flint are not able to afford water,” Albert said.
According the the City of Flint Michigan’s website, a state of emergency was declared by Mayor Karen Weaver in response to a man-made disaster caused by the City switching to the Flint River as a water source in 2014.
“As a result, people in the community have to get water from another source,” Albert said.
Albert explained why this issue is close to her.
“I have friends in Detroit. I have read a lot of information about the city and this problem,” Albert said.
The City of Flint released a report entitled “New UM-Flint Research Shows Location of Lead Pipes in Flint,” written by Kristin Moore. The report shows that the total estimate for contaminated service lines that contain lead are more than 8,000 in Flint.
“We have done a lot of research on the crisis,” Albert said. “The lead levels are so high even BRITTA water filters are leaving toxic amounts of lead in the water.”
So far, the UMC fundraiser has earned $500 in change, and ASUW raised $42 during its weekly meeting.
“Last Monday we raised $162 just in donations,” Albert said.
Money raised will be hand delivered by UW student leaders during the alternative spring break trip to Detroit.
Robert West, student co-leader for the Detroit alternative spring break trip, is working with local non-profits in Michigan to figure out how to directly distribute the funds.
West said the immediate impact of the donated change from UW would provide financial support in the form of bottled water and other resources for residents of Flint.
“We don’t want to deem what the community needs, we want the community to tell us what they need,” Albert said.
West explained the importance of directly visiting Michigan.
“We felt it was important for our group to visit that area and gain a deeper understanding of the systemic effects of poverty on communities of color and other marginalized communities,” West said.
To Albert and many others working for the cause, social injustice has taken place in Flint.
“A lot of Spanish speaking communities were unaware of the issue because all of the notices were printed in English,” Albert said. “It is a low income, minority community and I believe if it was a white community this issue would not be going on and unheard of for so long.”
Holms said there are issues surrounding the crisis other than the water, as Flint has a large population from marginalized groups.
“It is vital that students understand why this happened and the long-term outcome, so that it doesn’t happen again,” Holms said.
To help rectify the situation, on Feb. 24 Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder approved $30 million plan to help cover a portion of Flint residents’ water bills.
“The safety and well-being of Flint families remains our top priority,” Snyder said. “Our plan is to provide credits, covering the cost of water used for drinking, cooking and bathing. We’ll work with city leaders on how these credits are applied.”
Some of UW’s involved groups on campus are MEChA, Spectrum, UW Rotaract, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Advocates for Achievement, WyoGold, International Student Association, Panhellenic Council and Interfraternity Council.
