Sapienza marks the tenth anniversary of the earthquake in Central Italy, remembering the people, the victims and the university. However, the commemoration has not just been virtual.

On the morning after the earthquake, students from a number of faculties (Engineering, Humanities, Law, Communications, Physics, Science, Psychology, Philosophy, Political Sciences and Statistics) and medical students rushed to L’Aquila and set up at the Bazzano tent camp to help the homeless.

This initiative also led to scholarships for students, housing for one PhD student for a year and a half, the donation of a pharmacy container, crowdfunding for two social centres and the organization of activities at the children’s summer camp (July-August 2009).

Then, in August, a meeting was held in Bazzano by the Sapienza Faculty of Communications on the role of communications in emergency situations, along with a photography exhibition.  Later, a concert was organized in the Sapienza Aula Magna, where Professor Gaudio discussed the issue of post-traumatic psychological help with Journalist Parisse and Professor Avallone. Moreover, an office was organised on campus to coordinate all operations, donated materials and other forms of support.

Much of this was accomplished thanks to the stimulus of the then-Chaplain at Sapienza, Father Vincenzo D'Adamo, in collaboration with Rector Luigi Frati, the Faculty of Medicine and Professor Eugenio Gaudio, who identified specialization students available to leave for L’Aquila. 

Ten years later, Sapienza’s participation remains staunch and the entire university community ideally embraces all of population and our students, all those who suffered material and human losses. And our best wishes to the historic university that was also seriously damaged.