University lends helping hand to Katrina victims

A new IU Web site and hotline will bring together efforts to provide for students affected by Hurricane Katrina. The features, which debuted Thursday, are part of a campaign to reach out to students who are from the devastated regions as well as National Guard reservists who will be called up to aid in the relief effort there.\n"We are going to do our best to help the students most in need," IU-Bloomington Chancellor Ken Gros Louis said in a press release. "Efforts have been under way over the past few days, and we have already helped several students. I know that everyone in the IU community -- faculty, staff, students and alumni -- will come together to help."\nThere are about 85 students enrolled at IU who hail from areas hit by the hurricane. Each received a letter from Dean of Students Richard McKaig, who told them about services IU is providing, which include working with students having difficulty starting classes, facing financial difficulty because of the hurricane or seeking counseling. It also directed the students to the Web site, www.iub.edu/hurricane/, where all of the services are linked.\n"The events unfolding in your home region of the country are deeply troubling to all of us in the University community," McKaig wrote. "Although we may not be able to fully appreciate how you, your family, or your friends have been affected by this tragedy, please know that we want to do all we can to assist you, if our assistance would be helpful."\nMcKaig closed the letter assuring the students IU stands with them during these difficult times. \n" ...The University community joins me in saying that we are saddened by the tragedy caused by Hurricane Katrina, which continues to unfold," he wrote. "We wish the terrible problems faced by your home region were not so; but they are, and we all are left to deal with them together as best we can. Let us know how we might help. Our thoughts remain with you."\nThe Web site also has a section for publicizing events to benefit the hurricane victims, such as a student group fund-raising call-out sponsored by the IU Student Association and the IU Volunteer Students Bureau.\nIUSA President Alex Shortle encouraged students with ideas to come to the meeting, which will be held at 8 p.m. Monday in the Student Activities Tower conference room in the Indiana Memorial Union, to shape the campus relief drive. \n"We want to make sure we have an organized, cohesive effort on this or we'll be butting heads," Shortle said. "We want to promote this as an effort for Indiana University to get out there as the entire student body. The whole point is to get these groups together and see how we can help and make this a campus effort."\nThree students in the National Guard have had to withdraw from classes after being called up on active duty to the region, said Dot Kemp, who works with active duty call-ups in the Office of the Registrar. According to IU policy, students called to active duty may receive a complete refund of tuition and fees and can also receive an incomplete in the course. The new Web site offers information on how students who are called up can quickly get through the process. \nGros Louis said he's optimistic the efforts will be successful.\n"I have always been impressed with the willingness of Hoosiers to help in a time of crisis," he said.