Nearly three weeks after the devastation to the southern United States caused by Hurricane Katrina, the WUSTL community is continuing its efforts to provide relief for those in need.
Several ongoing projects are aimed at raising money and necessary supplies, and nearly 80 graduate and undergraduate students from affected areas have enrolled at the University on a visiting, non-degree-seeking basis.
“I have been heartened, but not surprised, by the many people within our community who have stepped up to help all of those who have been affected by Hurricane Katrina,” said Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton in a memo to the University community. “Our students, faculty and staff are using their creativity and energy to help in a growing multitude of ways, and I couldn’t be more proud of being a member of this community.”
According to the University’s hurricane relief Web site (communityservice.wustl.edu/hurricanerelief), members of the WUSTL community have raised more than $5,600 for the American Red Cross.
The following is a partial list of relief efforts and related activities.
• The St. Louis Black Repertory Company will donate proceeds from a special Sept. 13 Edison Theatre performance of Crossin’ Over, a musical history of Africans in America, to the St. Louis Chapter of the American Red Cross. Audience members were invited to make donations.
• Olin Cares of the Olin School of Business collected supplies for AmeriCorps St. Louis. Donations from M.B.A. students and business school staff included more than 10,000 minutes worth of phone cards, three cases of baby formula and an assortment of basic hygiene supplies.
• S.O.S. (Students of the South) is continuing its “canning” drive. The group, founded by senior Caroline Landry, who is from Lafayette, La., has been raising money around the University and has collected donations in excess of $1,000 to benefit the American Red Cross.
Donation canisters are available at several locations around the University. For a complete list of locations, go online to communityservice.wustl.edu/hurricanerelief/donate/sos.php.
• Karen Levin Coburn, assistant vice chancellor for students and dean for the freshman transition, led an orientation session Sept. 9 for many of the undergraduate and graduate students the University has accepted on a visiting, non-degree-seeking basis.
• The Pediatric Interest Group at the School of Medicine collected teddy bears to be sent to affected areas.
• The Campus Store in Mallinckrodt Student Center is collecting donations for the American Red Cross at its cash registers.
• Operation Food Search has placed donation bins at various locations around the Hilltop and West campuses. Canned food and personal care items will be collected.
• The Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity is organizing a clothing drive on the Hilltop Campus. Clothing and shoes can be donated through Sept. 30.
• Today only, the Subway restaurant in Umrath Hall will donate 50 cents to the American Red Cross for each sub, salad or wrap sold. Customers will also be welcome to make additional contributions. Subway is open from 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
• A University faculty roundtable discussion titled “Storms, Politics, and the Destruction of the American Gulf Coast: What Hurricane Katrina Wrought” was held Sept. 14. Panelists discussed public policy issues, the short- and long-term environmental issues for the Gulf region, the rebuilding of New Orleans and economic impacts of the hurricane.
Editor’s note: The Record will continue to cover this story and provide updates on new efforts related to hurricane relief. E-mail any information related to this topic to record@wustl.edu.