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Update: Taylor Faculty Member, Student Have Left Haiti

News and Events

Update: Taylor Faculty Member, Student Have Left Haiti

01.13.2010

January 20 Update: Taylor University officials report Academic Technology Specialist Leon Amstutz and student Jared King have left Haiti and are in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where they spent last night in a Red Cross shelter. They will return to their hometowns later today.

The Taylor community rejoices in the fact that our faculty member and student have safely returned to the United States; we continue to pray for all of those whose lives have been impacted by last week's earthquake and its aftermath.

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January 16 Update: Taylor University officials are working to bring Academic Technology Specialist Leon Amstutz and student Jared King back to the United States. Amstutz and King, who are in the Port-au-Prince, Haiti, area, went there originally to work with Radio Lumiere, a Christian radio network.

They were unhurt during Tuesday's 7.0 magnitude earthquake, but the deteriorating situation in Haiti and the U.S. Department of State's decision to remove non-essential personnel from the island nation, and its issuance of a travel warning have led University officials to bring Amstutz and King home.

Details will be published as they become available.

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January 14 Update: Academic Technology Specialist Leon Amstutz described widespread destruction and power outages in an e-mail to Taylor officials last evening but added that he and student Jared King were unhurt during Tuesday's 7.0 earthquake in Haiti.

In a message titled, "We are safe," Amstutz said that the Radio Lumiere station near Port-au-Prince withstood the quake and that he, King and radio engineer Alan Good have spent the past two nights there.

"We have been trying since last night to get word out that Alan Good, Jared King, and I survived the quake," Amstutz wrote. "Phones don't work to most areas, and our wireless internet connection is also dead. We walked all over Petionville today trying to find a Cyber Cafe that worked. Finally I found someone with a laptop and wireless cell modem that is working, albeit slow. I'll give you a quick update.

"We have been 'stranded' at the Stereo92 radio station in Petionville. The quake was not quite as strong here as downtown (Port-au-Prince) but there were still a lot of buildings and walls destroyed and many dead or injured people...

"We have a large bottle of Culligan water and I bought some oranges and bananas off the street Jared King today to eat along with some crackers. There continue to be aftershocks even just a few minutes ago and most people are afraid to be inside. Our Stereo92 building doesn't appear to have any cracks so we will sleep inside tonight."

Amstutz added that he and King hoped to get more food and clean clothes last night or today. "We are all OK and thank God for protection," he said. "We will try to communicate whenever possible. Appreciate your prayers. Leon."

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January 13 Update: University officials have learned that Jared King (sophomore engineering physics major) and Leon Amstutz (academic technology specialist at the ETC), who were in Carrefour, Haiti, near the epicenter of yesterday's 7.0 earthquake, are safe.

King and Amstutz are spending the month of January working with Radio Lumiere, a Christian radio station near the capital city of Port-au-Prince.

According to an e-mail message received by Taylor administrators, the radio station withstood the earthquake, which struck around 5:00 p.m., Tuesday. King and Amstutz were able to spend the night in the station.

Travel and communications in Haiti are hampered due to damage and ongoing aftershocks from the earthquake. The Taylor community continues to pray for the safety of our team and for all of those whose lives have been impacted by this disaster.

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Original: We are asking the Taylor University community to pray for Jared King (sophomore engineering Carrefour, Haiti - Google Maps physics major) and Leon Amstutz (academic technology specialist at the ETC), who are working with Radio Lumiere in Carrefour, Haiti, the epicenter of yesterday's earthquake. University officials are still working to reach Jared and Leon. We ask anyone who hears from either of them to immediately contact Dr. Chris Bennett (8-4574).

We will communicate updates on the Taylor portal and also on the Taylor Web site: http://www.taylor.edu/.

About Taylor University: Founded in 1846, Taylor University is an interdenominational liberal arts university of evangelical faith located in Upland, Ind. The 2010 U.S. News and World Report survey America's Best Colleges ranked Taylor the number one Baccalaureate College in the Midwest. It marked Taylor's third straight top ranking following ten straight years of being ranked in the region's Top Three.

Taylor University is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).

Founded in 1846, Taylor University is an interdenominational liberal arts university of evangelical faith located in Upland, Indiana. The mission of Taylor University is to develop servant leaders marked with a passion to minister Christ's redemptive love and truth to a world in need. We offer traditional undergraduate programs, along with blended delivery graduate programs that can meet the needs of today's busy adult. The 2011 U.S. News and World Report survey America's Best Colleges ranked Taylor the number one Baccalaureate College in the Midwest. It marked Taylor's fourth straight top ranking following ten straight years of being ranked in the region's Top Three. Taylor University is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).