  |
| |
|
Hurricane relief: By land . . . Unionists help provide campus havens
Oct. 20, 2005 Jovan Layne The markings of a nascent semester were evident: stereo speakers in windows, confusion about classes, and roommate compatibility rated in furtive e-mails to friends. Hurricane Katrina halted it all, scrambling lives and livelihoods in Mississippi , New Orleans and Alabama . As the high-intensity storm racked the Gulf Coast , many students joined the ranks of the homeless. "Some of them were in hotels, holed up and watching through the windows, water surrounding them, watching looters go about their business," said Henry Eichelberger, a member of United University Professions. An alum of Tulane University and a lab manager at the State University of New York at Binghamton , he's one of hundreds of faculty and staff who have made it possible for displaced students to enroll at New York colleges and have a place to live. "The quick and compassionate response by our higher education members means academic life can go on for hundreds of students victimized by the storm," said Dick Iannuzzi, president of New York State United Teachers. Empathy for victims has matched the storm's swiftness. Iannuzzi noted members of UUP, the Professional Staff Congress and NYSUT's community college locals rallied for intense collaborations among faculty, staff and administrators. Pressed by the academic year clock that was already ticking, they cleared the way for college students in southern states to relocate to state, city and private colleges in New York. A student's story Louisiana native Jovan Layne was beginning his second year at Southern University in New Orleans when he lost everything. "I evacuated the day before to Texas," he said. "I stayed at a hotel for a few days and watched the news." What he watched was the disappearance of his life as he had known it — apartment, job, and all his possessions. On the Internet, he found a volunteer organization had sprung up in New Paltz called "One Bus, One Town," which has been arranging for people displaced by the hurricane to come north for housing and help. "They told me about SUNY New Paltz, and I went on their Web site," Layne said. He decided to enroll. "He felt the neighboring states were being overwhelmed," said Lisa Chase, director of the Educational Opportunity Program at New Paltz. "One Bus, One Town" flew Layne to New York and helped him replace some of life's essentials, while college faculty and staff worked to enroll him and provide housing. Like Layne, most of the Gulf Coast college students lost health records, test scores, transcripts and financial aid forms when colleges were flooded. Many lost clothes, computers, books and personal belongings. "One mother told me she felt like she had sent twins to college because she had to buy everything twice," said UUPer Cheryl Brown, director of undergraduate admissions at SUNY Binghamton, which took in 47 students. Gov. Pataki quickly waived out-of-state enrollment costs, so all students could register as New Yorkers. Staff from enrollment, records and registration, residential life, admissions, financial aid and public relations, along with faculty, brainstormed about how to get students enrolled. "We had meetings with sometimes 25 of us in the room," said Brown. "It was an enormous, collaborative effort." Members of the UUP Binghamton chapter donated books for the transplanted students and "have extended themselves to assist," said Darryl Wood, chapter president. Enrollment was one hurdle: classes had been in session more than a week, and some were closed. "We called faculty members and asked if they could take extra students," said Brown. "The faculty were really very accommodating." SUNY Buffalo accepted 17 students — some in their final year of law school — but also gave thought to displaced staff, advertising four temporary administrative positions to hurricane victims through off-site information exchanges and other venues. Nassau CC enrolls 25 On Long Island, Nassau Community College registered 25 Tulane students. "We sent out the word via newspapers and radio," said Barry Fischler, NCC registrar and vice president of NCC Federation of Teachers for non-classroom faculty. "We overloaded classes, waived any late registration fee and testing, and got books at cost through Barnes & Noble." CUNY union reaches out Getting students in the door also meant making counseling services available, as well as emergency loans. City University of New York colleges were urged to provide supplementary financial aid through private and alumni support. A special admissions hotline was set up, and application and late registration fees were waived. About 75 displaced Gulf Coast students are now enrolled at CUNY, where each campus has an assigned relief officer to help out. Faculty are also part of a standing committee on disaster relief. The Professional Staff Congress voted to establish a fund to partner with Dillard University , which was totally flooded out. PSC Secretary Cecelia McCall said members' donations to the fund will help re-establish the university's library or computer facilities. — Liza Frenette |
| |
| | ||
