More than 100 students from colleges closed by Hurricane Katrina's destruction have enrolled at AU to salvage their semesters, greeted by special accommodations and a week of events to raise donations for disaster relief.
When the hurricane hit, classes had not yet started at Tulane, where most of AU's transfers expected to start school. Many students, especially freshmen, were already on campus for orientation and had to leave shortly after arriving.
"We drove there and then we drove straight back," said Jeff Eggen, a freshman from Philadelphia. The drive to Tulane took 20 hours but he was on campus for only six before the school issued a mandatory evacuation order.
Muriel Crippin, a freshman from New York, had moved into her dorm at Tulane but was staying in a hotel with her family when the storm hit. They left town on the private jet of a family they met at the hotel whose daughter was also headed for Tulane.
It's been a jarring start to her college experience, she said.
"You get all set to go somewhere and then you can't," Crippin said. "It's weird."
The Provost's office and Housing and Dining Programs at AU have tried to make the transition as easy as possible for the displaced students.
AU classes will be free to students who can document that they've already paid tuition at their schools in the Gulf Coast region, according to Ivy Broder, acting provost and dean of academic affairs.
The university is waiving tuition so "the financial dislocation and disruption is not a constraint for them, so they don't have to worry about that at this point," she said.
Most of the students are from Tulane University and others come from Loyola University, Xavier University and the University of New Orleans. The Washington College of Law is receiving about 20 students and the others are roughly evenly distributed among the undergraduate classes.
Though many courses are already full, some transfers say it wasn't hard to register for classes.
"I was so impressed with how willing everyone was to help out," said Joy Rothman, a freshman transfer student from Tulane University. She met with the dean of the School of Public Affairs Tuesday morning, who took her to an academic advisor for help with registration.
Some students have not found the process as accommodating.
Tracey Rogovin, a freshman, and Kat Waller, a senior, both from Tulane, had trouble getting registered for classes. Eggen also said he found it difficult to track down professors in their office hours.
Housing and Dining made special accommodations for the more than 70 transfers living on campus, providing pre-activated email accounts, phone lines and IDs with $20 in EagleBucks. Linens, an alarm clock and a phone were provided in rooms.
Student Government has organized a week of events to rally campus support for Katrina survivors and raise money for relief efforts.
"We'll treat [the transfers] as AU students and welcome them with open arms," said Student Government Secretary Leah Kreimer, who organized the SG's Katrina Aid and Relief Effort events. "My biggest feeling is to integrate them into campus life."
Last night K.A.R.E. kicked off when about 50 people gathered for a service in Kay featuring remarks from five members of the religious community and three AU students from New Orleans.
"We're a fiercely independent people," said Jasmine Gorowara, an AU senior from New Orleans. "But we're not afraid to ask for help when we need it. And now we ask for your help."
K.A.R.E. continues with a donation drive on the quad Thursday, when students can contribute money to Habitat for Humanity chapters in the affected areas.
A benefit concert this Friday at 8 p.m. in the Tavern will feature six local bands for a suggested $5 donation. At midnight, students can race around the quad and enjoy free food and a DJ in Mary Graydon Center. For a $10 suggested donation students can get a K.A.R.E. t-shirt.
Joe Vidulich, SG secretary, said students have come by his office asking how they can help victims of Katrina.
"AU students in general want to help people. It's a philosophy, it's a mantra that runs through this school's veins," he said. "Very rarely do you see a student who doesn't take interest"
