IU rightfully reaches out to hurricane victims

When we first heard about the levees breaking and flooding New Orleans, we felt shocked and a bit helpless. There seemed little we could do to help out the victims of this tragedy. Fortunately, this feeling did not sweep over the IU administration. The University has sprung into action to do what it can for those displaced by the catastrophe, and for that, we strongly applaud it.\nWe can often be critical of the University and some of the decisions it makes. However, we have nothing but praise for the quick response of the IU administration in this case. We are proud to be affiliated with an institution willing to bend rules and put people first when it matters.\nForemost among the University's efforts is its taking in of students who lost their schools to the flood. IU-Bloomington Chancellor Ken Gros Louis said Indiana has already taken in "over 40 undergraduate students, 19 law students and a number of graduate students." Indiana natives and out-of-state students alike who were enrolled on campuses no longer suitable for education (or habitation, for that matter) are taking up Indiana's generous offer. The University seeks to mesh them into the classroom as seamlessly as possible and is also remembering to waive unnecessary nuisances, like late registration fees.\nIndiana is opening its arms to hurricane victims. One-hundred twenty to 130 people who have been evacuated from the disaster area are going to be put up in Ashton Center until permanent housing can be found for them in Bloomington. According to the University, "Student volunteers will deliver continental breakfasts to them each morning, and arrangements have been made for them to eat lunches and dinners at Read Center."\nIn addition to administration efforts, IU students have responded to the disaster by giving blood to the Monroe County Red Cross, which has been running a blood drive this week on campus. Students often don't have extra money to donate, but giving blood is something most of us can do. Along with Indiana's current students, a number of IU alumni have also stepped up, offering their homes to displaced individuals should the University be unable to accommodate all the refugees.\nAdditionally, the IU Athletics Department is dutifully reaching out to Nicholls State University, who the Hoosiers are slated to play this weekend. The Nicholls State campus is located about 60 miles southeast of New Orleans, right in the middle of Katrina's destructive path. Nicholls State lacks transportation to Bloomington for this weekendand might not even have equipment or uniforms to wear. But the Hoosier athletics program has offered to provide anything the Nicholls State players might need for the coming weekend, including lodging and practice space for football players. \nAfter enduring one of the strongest hurricanes the Gulf Coast has ever seen, a chance to return to the gridiron is something many Nicholls State players would happily accept. We're proud IU can attempt to restore some semblance of order to what is otherwise total discord.