BY AUGUSTA STATZ
Echo Ren needs the help of the SCAD and Savannah community to get home to china.Photo Courtesy of Sephanie Li
SCAD and the greater Savannah community are coming together to raise funds for an international student. Zhouping (Echo) Ren, a graduate student in painting, was hit by a tour bus while riding her bike on April 30. Since then, she has been in the intensive care unit of Memorial University Medical Center.
The fund set up is to help Ren return to China. While Ren’s treatment has been covered by insurance, it is important she return to China so that she can continue care in an environment both she and her family are familiar with. It will take somewhere between $50,000 and $100,000 to send Ren home.
“There are a lot of people that have worked together to set up the fundraising,” said Qian (Stephanie) Li, a graduate industrial design and design management student. “It’s not only me, but a lot of students and professors together. The church has helped, some alumni [have helped] and all of the Chinese community in Savannah have helped out.”
Li first met Ren when she was working with International Student Services. She helped Ren find a temporary place to live before she moved into the SCAD dorms, and she helped her open a bank account and get accustomed to living in Savannah. During this process, the two became friends.
“[After the accident] a lot of Chinese students and American students wanted to help,” said Li. “But because they did not know how they could help, they just went to the hospital and visited her and spread the word to as many people as they can. Now, they can help through the fundraising and spreading the word about the fundraiser. A lot of people are making posters to tell people about the fundraiser.”
Li also mentioned SCAD students helping in other way, such as transporting Ren’s family around town and acting as translators so that Ren’s family can communicate with doctors.
“The entire SCAD community has shown tremendous compassion and support since the accident occurred,” said David Pugh, the dean of students for SCAD. “Our main goal is to continue to offer support and assistance to Echo and her family for as long as needed. Any time a member of the SCAD family suffers a tragedy such as this, SCAD’s true spirit of caring and compassion shines through. Echo and her family continue to be in the thoughts and prayers of the SCAD community.”
