Hurricane affects campus
Campus groups collect funds for Gulf Coast relief

By Elizabeth Leffall
The Collegian

Operation L.O.V.E., spearheaded by Fresno State’s Delta Sigma Theta sorority and Omega Psi Phi fraternity, is one of several aid drives being started on campus to help victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Ocie Parks, a junior advertising major, said the idea for the drive came to her while watching news coverage of the hurricane’s devastation Wednesday night.

“As I was watching television I just got so sad at what I saw, I wanted to help,” she said.

Parks said thinking about her boyfriend, who lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, prompted her to call her chapter president.

“I know [my boyfriend’s] ok but I still wanted to do something to help.”

After talking with her president, Parks said they decided to call the drive Operation L.O.V.E.
“LOVE stands for our Louisiana Outreach Volunteer Effort.”

Sophomore Henrique Tarpeh sat alongside Parks and other students at a table in the free speech area yesterday afternoon, asking students for donations as they passed by.

The two groups started the drive today and will continue sitting next to the Pub every day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. until next Friday.

Parks said the donations received by the drive would be turned over to the American Red Cross for Louisiana victims affected by the hurricane.

Members of Sigma Nu sat near Round Table Pizza also collecting donations. Fraternity members said they would also give the money to the American Red Cross to disperse to victims as needed.