IU opens Ashton Center for Katrina evacuees

As the rest of the nation answers the call for help from those affected by Hurricane Katrina, IU is no exception. The University has admitted more than 100 transfer students from universities not able to function because of the storm and has provided temporary housing at Ashton Center to about 130 non-student victims whose homes were destroyed.\nThe affected students will arrive early next week in two groups and will stay at Ashton until they can be permanently housed in Bloomington.\nExecutive Director for Residential Programs and Services Pat Connors said the idea for IU to help the victims of the hurricane emerged when members of the RPS apartment staff had a planning meeting with the Red Cross to make them aware that RPS would be able to provide on-campus apartments as long-term solutions for evacuees. \n"As the discussion continued our staff suggested the Ashton buildings might be a better logistical site in providing shelter and disaster related services to individuals and families as they arrived in Bloomington," he said. "We will be using Ashton-Coulter and Ashton-Aley, buildings that last served campus offices, (that) are currently empty, and are planned to eventually be razed. We will be supplying beds, fans, linens and some other room furnishings that we currently have in storage, and the Red Cross will also be supplying some cots."\nConnors also said IU will provide three meals a day along with bottled water, coffee and snacks for the evacuees. \nThe IU-Bloomington campus has admitted about 80 of those displaced students, 19 from the Tulane University Law School and 60 undergraduates from Gulf Coast universities. Buck Walters, director of planning for RPS, said every student who has approached RPS about housing has been accommodated. \n"We have space available as the students are getting admitted and enrolled. We are assigning them and we are glad that they are here," he said. "If we can house them with others of their friends who might be coming with them or near students who they know, we are trying to do that as best we can."\nThe last day for transfer applications will be Friday, but in order for the transfer student's paperwork to be processed, he or she will need to submit an application by 4 p.m. today.\nIUB Interim Chancellor Ken Gros Louis said the number of calls to the hotline has steadily decreased over the last couple of days, and many workers from the University have been working hard during this difficult time. The hotline, (866) 264-2491, was set up by IU for parents and students who have questions about the transfer process. Also, the University created a Web site, www.iub.edu/hurricane, to provide more information about IU's involvement in helping those affected by Katrina.\n"We are doing what we can to help all those affected by Katrina," Gros Louis said in a statement. "Bloomington is happy to house families temporarily. We have the space, so of course we will help -- that is the IU way. Red Cross will be staffing the facilities and will be responsible for the families' well-being." \nAdditionally, the IU Amateur Radio Club is offering the use of its AM radio to contact the families of students who have transferred to IU from the universities in the area. \nCurrently, the Salvation Army and others have been running communication "nets" where groups of amateur radio operators pass traffic, senior and club member Mark Hermsdorfer said.\n"To date, most of the traffic has been what would be classified as 'emergency or priority' traffic," he said. "Things such as diabetic supplies needed here, or 100 cots needed there. However, that traffic is starting to subside and what is classified as 'health and welfare' traffic will be able to get through. Health and welfare traffic is traffic pertaining to who is where and how they are doing."\nTo contact the club about sending a message or finding a family member, e-mail K9IU at k9iu@indiana.edu. Interested students can also contact Neukomm directly at his home, (812) 876-1751.