Katrina drives Tulane students to Tech

A group of 275 Tulane students and four staff members arrived at Tech Wednesday morning, seeking refuge after Hurricane Katrina devastated Tulane's campus in New Orleans.

"We are doing everything [we] can to make a very difficult situation more bearable as they are transitioning to different places," said Richard Steele, director of the Student Center.

The students had been in transit since evacuating on Saturday. "Tulane anticipated the hurricane and their emergency plan has them evacuating resident students to Jackson University. About 500 Tulane students were transported to Jackson University on Saturday morning where they stayed in the gymnasium," Steele said.

However, when Jackson University experienced a power outage and the airport closed the Tulane students were redirected to Tech and Southern Methodist University in Dallas. "They went two days with no power and no water. The conditions were tough. They had difficulty getting a bus," Steele said.

Tulane students arrived at the Student Center at 5 a.m.. Tech students and administrators worked through the night and had pizza, beverages and snacks for them when they arrived.

Tech opened the CRC showers for the Tulane students and had an information desk on the second floor of the Student Center. "The number one thing they wanted to do is take a hot shower," Steele said.

Marisol Vega-Holthaus, retail manager for the student center, worked at the information desk for part of the day. "We are here to help those in need. We're doing everything possible we can to help them out. We have airport shuttles, bus runs, showers and food," Vega-Holthaus said.

"We also have counseling sessions until five o'clock today for anyone who needs it. We're always here to help," Vega-Holthaus said.

Tulane students have had difficulty reaching friends because of damage in New Orleans and to the Tulane website.

"The telephones in New Orleans are closed. We cannot contact our friends in New Orleans," said Guoshing Zhu, a Tulane graduate student originally from China.

"I am worried about friends here and there around the United States. The only means to reach them is Tulane mail, and it is down," said Julie Hernandez, a Tulane graduate student originally from France.

"We're all like we're going to wake up from this. I just don't know when it is going to happen and what is going to happen in between," Hernandez said.

Tech Students were quick to respond to emails sent out Tuesday night asking for their assistance in providing hospitality for the students. "There has been a huge outpouring of support. Students were coming out of the woodwork [to help]," Steele said.

"I think it is a great thing that Tech is doing. I'm glad to be involved and helping. It is something to do right here on campus," said Lukas Fortunado, a fifth-year Management major.

"We should pride ourselves for being a school that takes special care of those in need," said David Andersen, undergraduate student body president.

With the condition in New Orleans still not stabilized, students do not know when Tulane will reopen. "The very optimistic option was September 21 to open up Tulane. There have been rumors that the whole semester may be gone," Hernandez said.

"We learned this morning how bad the city is flooded. Our school is very damaged; you cannot walk or drive around," Zhu said.

Most of the Tulane students were picked up or taken to the airport today. Tech is continuing to coordinate taking the remaining students to the airport and finding long term housing for approximately 80 mostly graduate, international students who need it.

"Graduate students are having to make tough decisions. Several have families and they have a lot to take account of," Steele said.

With only limited information being posted on Tulane's website and no known recovery plan, students must make arrangements on limited information. "I am still waiting on news from the university. I cannot decide if I need to stay. I am hoping to go back to school," Zhu said.

Hernandez is taking a bus to New York to stay with friends, but said that Tulane feels like home now. "The only thing I want to do now is get back to New Orleans as soon as possible," she said.