The Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina: UD Responds

The images of devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina throughout the Gulf Coast region are heart-rending. One cannot help but be moved by the news footage of residents of the stricken areas on rooftops bearing signs pleading for help, or waist deep in water as they search for food, shelter or simply refuge on a piece of dry land.

As the residents of those states most heavily affected by the disaster--Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida--begin the long and difficult process of recovery and healing, our hearts go out to them.

Although Delaware is more than 1,000 miles from the storm's epicenter, we feel a special kinship with those now suffering so deeply because our state, too, has a fragile coastal region and we fully appreciate the distinctive beauty, bounty and wonder, and also the very delicate nature of such areas.

As well, we feel close ties to the tragedy because many of the victims' families, friends and loved one are residents of this region and, in fact, members of our own campus community.

A special sense of family

Throughout the years, many people have remarked on the fact that the University of Delaware has about it a special sense of family, and that has never been more evident than during the last few days. Across campus, many students, faculty and staff members have expressed both sympathy and caring, and have asked how best to assist their compatriots along the Gulf Coast.

I want to let you know that the University of Delaware is doing its best to assist in the recovery, with the admissions office making special arrangements for displaced students, student groups organizing fund-raising efforts and campus religious leaders coming together to offer spiritual comfort.

UD received inquiries from about 70 families of students from the Gulf Coast area. Many of those students were enrolled at Tulane University in New Orleans, which, because of the massive destruction in that city, has been forced to cancel its fall semester.

In fact, many of the students had been admitted to Delaware but had opted to attend Tulane, which shared our move-in date of Aug. 27. No sooner had these students begun to settle in than they were evacuated when Katrina bore down on the region.

In total, about 50 of these students indicated interest in enrolling at UD and about 20 have taken us up on the offer. We are providing them the flexibility to take courses here and later return to their home institution, or to remain here and eventually earn their degree from UD.

It is a credit to our deans and assistant deans, who have been helping get the students into the appropriate classes, and to our faculty, who have done a tremendous job at accommodating the students into their courses. According to reports, our students, as well, have been exceptionally welcoming.

Cutting red tape

As well, UD administrators have helped cut the red tape to enroll these students, waiving fees, tuition deposits and applications. And, because it is impossible to secure official transcripts, we have been accepting copies of records to properly credit course work.

Those students who had been accepted to UD before deciding to enroll in institutions along the Gulf Coast and who had been offered scholarship assistance here have had that assistance reinstated.

Some members of the UD family even volunteered their own homes to house the students, although accommodations have now been made through the stellar efforts of the housing assignment services office.

The situation has been both harrowing and painful for these students, and we are pleased to be able to offer them a home on our campus. We encourage students, staff and faculty to continue to do all that is necessary to make them feel welcome.

A number of student organizations, moved by the tragedy, have undertaken efforts to raise funds for various charitable organizations that are involved in relief efforts. The Kappa Alpha fraternity, for example, began a KAndy for Katrina fund raising drive and reported that people were showing great generosity and virtually “throwing money at us.”

'Giving on The Green'

In addition, UD's Office of Campus Life and several other campus offices held a major fund-raising effort, with all proceeds to be donated to the American Red Cross to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Giving on The Green was held Friday, Sept. 16, in the Food Court and Multipurpose Room A of the Trabant University Center. Residential complexes, Registered Student Organizations and fraternities and sororities were invited to participate and encouraged to develop creative ways to convince supporters to fill their buckets with money. Educational information about the hurricane, its aftermath and the American Red Cross was on display throughout the event.

To jump start fund raising for the Giving on The Green event, there was a raffle of items donated by various campus offices and services, including an overnight package at Marriott's Courtyard Newark-University of Delaware, dinner for two at the Blue and Gold Club and gifts from Coca-Cola, Wissahickon Spring Water, ARAMARK and the University Bookstore.

A ribbon garden

As well, Campus Life sponsored a ribbon garden, with residence life staff distributing green ribbons on which recipients wrote messages to victims of the storm. The ribbons were displayed to encourage reflection and awareness, and to serve as a message of hope in representing our ability to come together as a community to support others in their time of need.

Fund raising and ribbon distributions continued at Newark Community Day on Sunday, Sept. 18, with UD and the city of Newark sharing a table in front of Wolf Hall.

For those interested in making monetary gifts for relief, online donations are being accepted by a host of well-established charities, including the American Red Cross and the United Way, by churches and religious organizations, and by the new Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund headed by former Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. At the opening football game Sept. 10, contact information on these charities was distributed and Fightin' Blue Hen fans were encouraged to support those in need.

Interfaith vigil

Beyond monetary support for victims in the Gulf Coast, UD campus religious leaders are offering counseling and spiritual uplift as we all struggle to cope with the enormity of the situation. An interfaith candlelight vigil was held Monday, Sept. 12, on the north lawn of The Green. There were prayers, readings and music in memory of those who died and in support of those who survived.

The University has posted this special web site to help keep the campus community up to date about how we are responding to the situation in the Gulf Coast.

Again, our hearts are with our fellow Americans in that stricken region as they work to rebuild their homes, their businesses, their educational systems and their lives.

Sincerely,