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UNH Hurricane Katrina Efforts

 Universitywide Forum on Hurricane Aftermath is Sept. 20
The campus community is invited to participate in a multidisciplinary forum on the causes and consequences of Hurricane Katrina. The purpose of this forum is to create a deeper understanding of the effects of the disaster, including the lessons that might be applied to future events of a similar nature. The forum is sponsored by the Office of the Provost.

The forum will be held Tuesday, Sept. 20, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in the Strafford Room, MUB. Six to eight faculty with expertise in the history of the Gulf Coast region; the economic, social, and political impact of the disaster; the environmental and climatological aspects of the storm; and the engineering questions regarding prevention and rebuilding will lead discussions.

The forum will be organized around simultaneous small group discussions led by UNH faculty and staff, on the following topics:

Why was Katrina so intense, and will there be more hurricanes like it?
Professor David Brown, Department of Geography

The environment, New Orleans, and Katrina
Professor Kurk Dorsey, Department of History

What have we learned about race and poverty along the Gulf Coast as a result of Katrina?
Professor William Harris, Department of History

What have been the effects of Katrina on water supplies and wastewater management along the Gulf Coast?
Professor Robin Collins, Department of Civil Engineering

How do regions plan for and mitigate the effects of natural disasters?
Brad Manning, Director, University Emergency Group

The economic consequences of Katrina
Professor James Wible, Department of Economics

The social and health consequences of Katrina
Professor Sharyn Potter, Department of Sociology

Lessons in Leadership—What does this disaster tell us about the exercise of public leadership?
Professor Carole Barnett, Department of Decision Sciences

A survivor’s story—the impact of Katrina on Tulane University
Bruno Lossi, Department of Monographs and Acquisitions, Howard Tilton Memorial Library, Tulane University.

Give a Dollar, Save a Life
Under the organizing theme of “Give a Dollar, Save a Life,” a loose coalition of UNH students, faculty, and staff have centralized support for the diverse campus efforts raising money to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina. The coordinators of the campaign have set a fundraising goal of $15,000, representing approximately $1 donated by each member of the UNH community, that will go to the Red Cross and the Salvation Army.

Intended to support rather than replace the myriad fundraising efforts throughout the university, “Give a Dollar, Save a Life” will aggregate all dollars raised “so at the end of the effort we can as a community look back at what we’ve done,” said Kate Hanson, Thompson School of Applied Science associate professor and chair of the Community Service and Leadership Program.

Any campus group raising relief money for victims of Hurricane Katrina can use the “Give a Dollar, Save a Life” slogan, logo, and poster template. Bob Pettigrew in the Student Activities Fee Office will serve as a central collection point for dollars raised, depositing funds into a designated account and maintaining totals. For information, contact:

The students can donate using their Cats Cache at the MUB Ticket Office. “There are so many college students down there who are not going to get their college education this year. This shows what we can do when everyone pulls together and gets involved,” Pettigrew said.

Also, on Sunday, Sept. 25, Athletics will conduct a duplication of last spring's Dodge Ball Tournament to raise money for the Hurricane Relief. The event starts at noon on Memorial Field.

"Last spring's tourney was a huge success, and with your help and participation, will be bigger and better. The likely benefactor of our efforts will be the Salvation Army or the Red Cross.  Our hopes are to mobilize as many students and staff as possible. If you can help us in meeting this goal or have thoughts on ways you can contribute, please call me. Together, no matter the capacity you are able to participate, your contribution will be significant. We hope that you will help us in every way to make this a total campus wide effort," said Matt Drayton, director of life skills. Drayton can be reached at 2-4051.

Students Serving in National Guard
Nine UNH students who are members of the NH National Guard have been sent to the Louisiana/Gulf Coast region to provide support and to restore order following Hurricane Katrina. 

At this time, most have orders indicating this to be a two-week rotation. Some have expressed an interest in remaining enrolled and returning to classes in two weeks, and UNH is working with deans and faculty to try to ensure that the students can return to classes when they return from their military duties. 

At this time, all of these students are being “retained” in their courses in order to facilitate their return, but any of these students who determines that s/he is unable to return to class will be held harmless financially.

UNH Ready To Assist Students On Space-Available Basis
UNH will grant non-degree admission to students who were enrolled in colleges and universities closed because of Hurricane Katrina. Courses are available on a space-available basis and students will work with an advisor in the University Advising and Career Center or one of our schools and colleges prior to registration to ensure that courses are appropriate based on both prior coursework and readiness for those courses.

In addition, UNH advising staff will try to counsel students about the likelihood that their home institutions will be returning to normal in the future and will work with them to try to integrate their coursework at UNH with their long-term plans and with the curricula of their home institutions.

The university will work with students to accommodate the financial dislocation that has resulted from the storms. Although the university is not in a position to waive tuition, it will modify deadlines for students affected by the hurricane to allow sufficient time to sort out the various financial issues associated with enrollment.

Because of housing pressures, the university is not able to provide housing on campus so students who are unable to obtain rental housing in the area and for whom commuting to UNH will be a problem, will be made aware of opportunities at UNHM, Keene State College, Plymouth State University, Granite State College and the New Hampshire Community Technical Colleges, as well as private options that would work better for them based on location.

“The images provided by the media and the stories that are becoming available through personal contacts paint a horrific picture of the suffering, loss and confusion that have accompanied this natural disaster,” said UNH President Ann Weaver Hart. “In the aftermath, we will do everything we can to accommodate any New Hampshire students who wish to enroll at the University until the worst is over and campuses are again open. We can grant special admission to students for courses that are still open for enrollment, and our University Advising and Career Center will assist in advising these students. Naturally, we also will make them aware of other options at our Manchester campus and other USNH schools. The most important thing right now is people’s safety and as community initiatives increase to help those in need, I urge everyone to give whatever they can in the way of aid for those affected by Katrina.”

Other USNH Campuses Also Assisting
UNH is just one of the USNH campuses that is ready to assist NH Students. Residents who are studying at any of the colleges and universities impacted by Hurricane Katrina will be granted non-degree admission at any USNH institution this fall.

“Our hearts go out to all of the people whose lives have been profoundly disrupted by this natural disaster,” said USNH Chancellor Stephen Reno. “I have been in touch with all our presidents and they have assured me that they will do everything possible to accommodate the needs of New Hampshire students studying at one of the many schools impacted by this disaster.”  

Staff at the UNH, Keene State College, Plymouth State University, and Granite State College have already been in contact with some displaced students who want to continue their studies. Keene State College is working with three former Keene high school students in Louisiana who are considering a return to New Hampshire.

USNH institutions are prepared to help students expedite enrollment and provide academic advising, counseling, and orientation for the affected students. Housing may also be available at some locations.  

“We have all seen the devastation caused by this storm and the higher education community is doing all that it can to reach out to tens of thousands of students attending college in this region.  As a public university system, we have a responsibility to reach out and try to help in this time of need,” Reno said.  

In addition to UNH's humanitarian projects, USNH institutions are also working on and supporting humanitarian projects to assist the victims of Hurricane.   

At Keene State, a campuswide meeting to discuss fund-raising and relief approaches will be held Thursday, Sept. 8, at 12:30 p.m. at a venue to be announced in the Student Center. The meeting will be moderated by Corinne Kowpak, vice president for student affairs, and Don Hayes, community services coordinator. For more information, contact Hayes at 358-2665. Members of the public are invited to attend.

A fund-raising effort for victims of the disaster, organized by the Keene State chapter of Habitat for Humanity and the student community service club Circle K, will be held Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 6-7, in the Student Center atrium. Members of these organizations will sell "Wave of Hope" bracelets.  

The student chapter of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) at Plymouth State University is developing a fund raising effort to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. Tentative plans have been made for all dollars raised to go to the American Red Cross. According to chapter co-presidents Chris Winters and Chris Gloninger, donations will be solicited from members of the campus community and at donation sites being established in the downtown area.

 

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