We have no doubt that all members of Emory’s community have been affected by the Georgia flooding in one way or another; certainly everyone has their own complaints to share after being inconvenienced by the damage caused by the deluge on campus during the past week. It’s easy to lose sight sometimes, however, of how seriously some have been affected by the torrential weather conditions — even within our own Emory community. Few among us are still dealing with damages and costs associated with the downpours; thus, those still struggling with the aftermath are all the more likely to fall through the cracks.

Between courses and other obligations, though, many students just don’t have the time or resources to be dealing with issues such as serious damage to homes, property or automobiles. In order to aid those affected by the flooding, members of the Candler School of Theology have created an Emergency Flood Fund. The fund takes monetary contributions as well as other donations, such as furniture. These resources will be provided to Candler students who complete and submit a form on their website and are approved by a review board.

But while the School of Theology should be commended in this instance for their positive actions, it is important also to keep in mind how this specific example of community engagement fits into the greater context of Candler’s role on campus. They are regularly at the front of the scene when it comes to pressing issues, be they Emory concerns or national ones.

In addition to creating the Flood Fund, the Theology School spearheaded an Emory response to the death row inmate Troy Davis case last year, encouraging students to petition against the heavily questioned death sentence case. Beyond that, members of the Candler community also took part in organizing protests and raising awareness, both in Emory and around Atlanta, about the circumstances of the case. And while it’s on a much lighter note, the Candler-inspired “Febru-hairy” program, in which students are encouraged to grow out their mustaches, raises important funds for the DeKalb Women’s Center and raises awareness of domestic violence.

By reinforcing a sense of community within the school by coming to students’ aid during a time of need, and in continuously striving to promote good and important causes, Candler is directly contributing to the quality of life on campus and helping Emory to become an ethically engaged community. In addition, we encourage the University as a whole to strive to be equally proactive and concerned with issues that affect the community, both at large and individually.

The above staff editorial represents the majority opinion of the Wheel’s editorial board.