KU knows of no students, faculty affected by disaster

Kansas University officials want to hear from international students affected by Sunday’s earthquake and tsunami.

So far, they have yet to find any students, faculty members or staff who lost family members in the disaster.

Chancellor Robert Hemenway sent a letter to the approximately 1,750 international students at the university, offering assistance and seeking information about anyone affected by the destruction.

The Office of International Student and Scholar Services sent a similar e-mail to the students Monday.

“As an international community, the University of Kansas shares in the grief being experienced by students, alumni, faculty and staff affected in any way by this week’s tsunami in the Indian Ocean,” Hemenway said in a statement. “Every KU family member from the many countries involved has our deepest sympathies in this time of mourning.”

KU had 363 students from countries affected by the tsunamis enrolled during the fall semester, according to university data.

There are 256 from India, 54 from Malaysia, 28 from Indonesia, 17 from Thailand and eight from Sri Lanka.