University reaches out
to Katrina victims

NC State has opened its doors – and the university community its hearts – to the victims of Hurricane Katrina, which struck New Orleans and several other Gulf Coast areas on Monday, Aug. 29.

Student organizations have held chapter and campus fund-raisers under the name “Compassion in Action,” based on the chancellor’s description of NC State as “Innovation in Action.” More information on these efforts can be found here.

In addition to supplies and materials collected, more than $56,000 in cash has been raised so far, including more than $45,000 given at the gates of Carter-Finley Stadium during NC State’s home football opener.

NC State has also enrolled 40 students – both on campus and via distance education – from universities in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama who were impacted by the storm. Faculty and staff have taken steps to ease the displaced students’ transition to the Raleigh area.

“NC State has a tradition of responding to the needs of others,” said Chancellor James L. Oblinger. “What we’re seeing in response to this tragedy is what I would expect from the NC State community. We certainly remember how the country responded to us when Hurricane Floyd came through. We welcome these students to the NC State family, and offer them our support.”

The compassion extended to animal relief as well. A group of NC State faculty and students packed up a trailer-load of supplies and headed for the campus of Louisiana State University, where a shelter was set up and had taken in hundreds of animals. The vet school also pitched in to help when evacuees – and their pets – were flown into Raleigh from New Orleans.

Meanwhile, an undergraduate animal science major led “Project Pet Chow,” which has collected several thousand pounds of pet food and supplies that will be sent to the SPCA in Baton Rouge, La.

For more information on the university’s relief activities, visit www.ncsu.edu.

Posted Sept. 16, 2005

Return to the Bulletin homepage