Local relief efforts cotinue for Gulf Coast

By Elizabeth Leffall
The Collegian

In a written statement released yesterday, a university spokesperson said eight students have already inquired about transferring from New Orleans-based colleges to Fresno State. As of this morning, two have already attended their first class.

Along with emergency admissions and providing immediate housing, Paul Oliaro, vice-president of Student Affairs, said the university would help students with the transition of moving from one campus to another.

Charles Reed, chancellor of the California State University system, said all 23 campuses stand ready to help students displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

“We want to make sure that the educational goals of students are not interrupted by this devastating hurricane,” Reed said.

Following Reed’s sentiments, Mark Aydelotte,Fresno State’s associate vice-president of university communications said even though the university is ready to admit students on a case-by-case basis, getting from the Gulf Coast to Fresno will probably be the real struggle.

“The sooner they get here the better it will be for them academically,” Aydelotte said.

A spokesman from the athletics department said they would accept donations for the American Red Cross before and during Fresno State’s first football game this Saturday.

Among Fresno State’s Sigma Nu fraternity, Delta Sigma Theta sorority and Omega Psi Phi fraternity, the groups have raised more than $500.

Operation LOVE coordinator Ocie Parks said her group has set their goal high.

“We want to raise $1,000 by Friday. We think we can do it.”

Parks said they have incentive to meet their goal.

“We’ve been told by Washington Mutual that whatever we turn in to them they will double,” she said. “We want to send as much financial help as we can.”
More than twenty student clubs and organizations are expected to attend a meeting this evening organized to launch a campus-wide relief effort.
Coordinated by the Student Affairs office and the Office of Civic Engagement and Service-Learning (CESL), campus groups will be given an opportunity to work on a large-scale drive that will directly benefit victims in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi.

CESL Director Chris Fiorentino said he hopes the drive will raise more than $23,000 toward relief efforts.

“Our hope is to build momentum for a university-wide response with the aim of raising at least $1 from every student, staff and faculty member at Fresno State,” he said.

Student groups interested in joining the effort should attend tonight’s meeting to be held in the Family Food Sciences Building in room 213. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m.

The city of Fresno has also responded. Mayor Alan Autry said during a recent press conference that Fresno is preparing to care for 400 people. “If needed, “ he said, “hurricane victims can even be housed in Grizzlies Stadium.”

The Fresno Art Museum, Clear Channel Radio and KFSR, Fresno State’s student-run radio station, will hold a New Orleans-style jazz concert tomorrow night at the museum at 7 p.m. on behalf of hurricane victims. Donations will be taken at the door.

The Salvation Army continues to accept donations and the Fresno chapter of the American Red Cross has already raised more than $250,000 since the hurricane first hit. As of today the national organization has received $409.2 million in gifts and pledges and approximately $209 million in online donations.