The blaze has not only ravaged the landscapes of California but also the lives of many students, with the impact reaching across state lines to Arizona State University. ASU is home to approximately 6,000 California natives and an additional 14,000 who are enrolled in online courses, as per KJZZ. While some students were evacuated during the recent fires, others have suffered the total loss of their homes, leaving them in states of uncertainty as the academic term commences.
ASU student Shay Mauriello, a California native, described the chaos and tension he experienced watching his community burn, "Everybody was so on edge," he recalled in an interview obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix. Mauriello's family home, surrounded by what once was lush verdure, thankfully remains standing. However, his best friend's childhood house, a structure steeped in shared memories, was not as fortunate.
While ASU student Lance Doven was abroad for his spring semester, he learned that his childhood home had been destroyed by the wildfires. "His family, you know, had to tell him overseas," said Jake Crosby, another student and president of ASU Sigma Nu, as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix. Doven's parents managed to escape but with little more than the clothing they were wearing at the time.
In the wake of this disaster, the ASU community is rallying support. Students like Doven are the focus of fundraising efforts such as a GoFundMe posted by his fraternity brothers on social media. "We're trying to show him all the love we can give, given he's not able to be around us," Crosby explained. Donation drives are spreading across campus to aid those affected, with boxes scheduled to be transported to California on January 17, according to the same FOX 10 Phoenix report.
ASU has stepped forward, acknowledging the hardships faced by their students. Media Relations Director Veronica Sanchez stated the university's commitment to assist, offering "counseling, crisis management, if there are issues with their education, [they should] contact their professors when it comes to their assignments, wrapping those up or finding other plans in which they can finish those," according to a report by KJZZ. With thousands displaced by the fires, ASU extends a lifeline to those pursuing their education amidst the crisis.
