Raising Relief

IU President Adam Herbert and Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan turned out with about 125 people Monday for a benefit to raise money and supplies for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.\nThe goal of the event, held outside the Monroe County Courthouse, was to bring together the Bloomington community, providing them with the inspiration and the vehicle to donate supplies and money to the victims of Katrina. The supplies brought to the event were loaded on two different trucks, both bound for Baton Rouge, La., which has seen its population tripled since victims have been transported to the town.\nSupplies loaded into a small, two-ton trailer Monday night will leave for Baton Rouge this weekend. The second trailer, an 18-wheel semi truck, will be parked on Sixth Street between College Avenue and Walnut Street for the rest of the week taking supplies from the community, up to 40,000 pounds. \nJimmy Arms, owner of the truck, is volunteering his time, truck and gas to drive the supplies down to those who need them most. This isn't the first time he has driven across the country during a national tragedy. In the days after Sept. 11, 2001, he made several trips from Bloomington to New York to deliver supplies. \nArms spoke briefly at the event, saying, "Keep giving. And as long as you give we'll keep hauling." \nSeveral IU students came to the event, including about 30 members of the Sigma Nu fraternity who are starting the Katrina Relief Team. Senior Aaron Spicer said he was sitting at his house Friday when he turned on the news and saw the devastation caused by the hurricane, feeling the need to act. \nThe team collected $1,250 Monday night with a goal of $10,000, and all the money they collect will go to the Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. \nSpicer feels personal connection with the disaster. Besides having friends in Louisiana, part of his National Guard unit was deployed Saturday.\n"We're not trying to take all the credit, we are just trying to do our part," he said. "You can see it on TV. I mean, I would rather be in Afghanistan than there. It looks like a nuclear bomb went off."\nIU created a hot line about a week ago to help students who won't be able to attend the universities affected by the hurricane, easing their enrollment into IU. The hot line has received some 800 calls, said Herbert.\nHerbert said IU has already accepted 50 undergraduate and graduate students from the region and is expected to accept 75 by week's end. \n"One of the things I was very proud of is the entire IU community joining with the members of our city in these feelings of compassion and in the determination to extend a helping hand," he said. \nKruzan announced the city will present its own relief package for the victims of the hurricane tomorrow.\n"I think all of us would say tonight's event is best summarized in two words: 'We care.' Once again we are left to comprehend the incomprehensible," he said.\nIndiana is going to accept about 3,000 victims, 100 to 300 of whom will find temporary homes in Monroe County, according to the Monroe County Chapter of the Red Cross.