UB reaches out

With each passing day, Hurricane Katrina is earning its title as the worst natural disaster in U.S. history.

By some estimates, the death toll could reach10,000 people, and the number of disrupted lives is almost countless. Many have found the images streaming from the Gulf Coast to be nothing less of heart-wrenching, as makeshift graves are set up on sidewalks and families huddle in undermanned shelters without food or water in the ebbing chaos of New Orleans.

As individuals and organizations nationwide work to provide relief to the storm-battered region, UB has joined the fray. On top of a major university-wide fundraising effort, a handful of students from Tulane University will transfer here immediately, according to UB officials.

With schools like Louisiana State and Tulane all but destroyed, students affected by the destructive hurricane are being forced to find alternative schools at which they can continue their education. One of those alternatives, it turns out, is UB.

According to Dennis Black, vice president for Student Affairs, four undergraduate students from Tulane, which was flooded with the rest of New Orleans, will be enrolled as visiting students for the fall 2005 term.

"Tulane didn't make the announcement until Friday evening that they will be closed for the fall semester," Black said.

Cheryl Tubinis, executive assistant to the dean of the law school, announced that two first-year law students from Loyola and Tulane University would be visiting students for the semester as well.

Tubinis said the two students coming from Louisiana both have family in the Buffalo area.

"They both saw the storm coming and got out in time," Tubinis said.

The students making the quick transition from Louisiana to UB will have the option to stay on-campus if needed.

"The residence halls are very tight and it is very challenging due to over-capacity," said Mary Clare Fahey, a coordinator for the Leadership Development Center. "However, these students coming from Louisiana have highest priority in getting housing."

Some students said that while they understand the gravity of the situation, UB should handle the situation differently. Greg Woodcock, a transfer student and architecture major, said UB students should have first priority over students coming from other universities.

"I think what UB is doing is a nice gesture but all of us have gone through an acceptance process and they haven't," Woodcock said. "We also should have first priority in housing since it has been over capacity."

Other students, like Danielle Regnier, said it's great to see UB opening its doors for the Louisiana refugees.

"I think it is great the students affected by the tragedy have the option of coming to UB," said Regnier, a senior nursing major.

In addition to helping displaced students, UB has announced its participation in hurricane relief projects.

"I was blown away by the outpouring of support from student groups looking to help the victims of the hurricane," Fahey said. "I have received at least 50 emails since Thursday from students asking to help."

Tracey Eastman, a coordinator for the office of the vice president for Student Affairs, said the primary goal is to increase funding to the existing efforts.

"FEMA and the Red Cross said this was the best thing to do," Eastman said.

There will also be a number of blood drives at UB from September through April to help the burgeoning hospitals and refugee centers down South.

By making UB's efforts high profile, many students said they thought it would help bring in more student activism on what many consider to be a largely apathetic campus.

Some students, like Woodcock, who has family in Mississippi, said they have relatives or other connections to those affected by Hurricane Katrina.

"Not a lot of people know those who were in the area where Katrina struck," Woodcock said. "UB students shouldn't ignore the fundraising efforts because we are all American citizens."

According to UB officials, fundraising efforts will happen throughout the semester, but especially at a service fair at the Alfiero Center Sept. 14, at the UB football game Sept. 17, and at the Linda Yalem run Sept. 25.

According to SUNY SA delegate Peter Rizzo, the Student Association will be collecting a nominal fee at Fall Fest to raise money for the relief efforts.

"We anticipate collecting a donation around five dollars," he said.

SA has also created a line in its budget to maintain these donations.

"Imagine the agony the people are going through," Rizzo said. "We needed to get involved."

In addition to the fundraisers UB is coordinating, Fahey said students are working alongside WNY Food Pantry for food drives, among other individual efforts.

"It is exciting how quickly people can come together," Black said.

Email: spectrum-news@buffalo.edu