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University of Idaho's 'Katrina Relief' Brings Outpouring of Good Will
Sept. 6, 2005
MOSCOW, Idaho -- A virtual "second hurricane" of modern communication and responses came in the aftermath of last week's Hurricane Katrina.
Hundreds of higher education institutions offered relief to displaced students and faculty in the Gulf states, Internet listservs popped up to post services and education associations rallied to network help.
At the University of Idaho, early offers were made for 10 scholarships to those whose educations had been disrupted by Katrina. It also provided for housing and streamlined admissions processes. UI opened its doors to faculty members at impacted universities, who seek temporary placement in teaching and research winter and/or spring semesters.
"We expect all of our offered scholarships to be filled this week," said Dan Davenport, admissions and financial aid director who has fielded nearly 30 inquiries. The first student arrived today, who is from Idaho Falls and had planned to attend Tulane University.
Others from Bonners Ferry, Emmett, Twin Falls, Boise, Sandpoint, Blackfoot, Gresham, Ore., and Seattle, Wash. will arrive later this week.
Numerous offers of host homes came from administrators, local residents and even one student who said, "while I'm not in the financial position to donate more, I do have an extra room to offer." Davenport also may arrange residence hall placement for the affected students.
Of the continuing inquiries, Davenport relates that a Montana family with an engineering student literally turned around in the residence hall parking lot at Tulane University and called about their interest in UI's offer.
"Another student who called us had nothing left from the devastation, other than the clothes he was wearing," said Davenport. "A Blackfoot student, recently released from military service in the Iraq war, was on his way to a southeastern college. One student said he could not come for weeks as he must find his mother a house with a roof." Calls continue, he said.
Davenport also may arrange residence hall placement for the affected students.
UI recently posted a second announcement on a nationwide listserv to alert graduate students and law students that the university's offers apply to them as well, where space is available. Displaced students also may enroll for the January 2006 semester.
The first cash donations to be routed to the American Red Cross were collected at the UI-WSU football game last week. One student used his Vandal card to make a donation.
UI's Lionel Hampton School of Music and the Washington State University music program will conduct a benefit concert at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 13, in the UI administration auditorium. "We're simply doing what we can to raise funds for Katrina relief," said Jim Murphy, LHSOM director. "We hope all 440 seats of the auditorium are filled that night with humanitarian concert-goers." Admission will be by goodwill offering.
Contacts for various other contributions:
· Impacted graduate students seeking temporary placement -- UI Graduate Admissions Office, (208) 885-4001 or toll free 1-88-88-UIDAHO;
· Impacted undergraduate students -- UI Admissions Office, (208) 885-6326;
· Impacted faculty members who seek temporary placement in teaching and research winter and/or spring semesters -- UI College of Graduate Studies, (208) 885-6243;
· Impacted law students -- see UI posting on the Association of American Law Schools Web, www.aals.org
· Online clearinghouse of offers from more than 200 colleges and universities -- www.scup.org/knowledge/katrina/
· Katrina Disaster Fund contributions, which will be funneled to the American Red Cross, may be sent to the Office of the President, (208) 885-6365, PO Box 443151, Moscow, ID 83844-3151. Checks may be made out to the American Red Cross or donations may be made online at www.redcross.org/. UI employees may contribute via payroll deduction through the Office of Payroll Services, (208) 885-3865;
· Donations of clothes, toiletries and food will be accepted at the campus police substation until noon, Wednesday, Sept. 7. The items will be given to the Bonner County Sheriff’s Department convoy headed for the Hurricane Katrina areas. The convoy leaves Moscow the afternoon of Sept. 7.
· UI Chemistry Office is a drop-off point for school supplies, toys, clothing and books to send to the disaster relieve effort, via the Red Cross.
"I am exceedingly proud of our community's timely response and compassion for our friends in the Gulf states," said UI President Tim White. "This is service learning in action."
Contact: Nancy Hilliard, University Communications, hilliard@uidaho.edu, (208) 885-6567
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