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It's been 60 days since Hurricane Katrina changed so many people's lives. Pepperdine students, faculty and staff have helped start the path toward recovery for those people both in the Gulf Coast and on campus.
For 12 students from Tulane, Dillard and Loyola Universities, starting their school years hundreds of miles away from where they expected was a challenge few expected them to face alone. Through the help of Pepperdine students and faculty, these visiting students have been able to find a place here before returning to their respective universities in the spring.
Senior Jennifer Shapiro from Tulane University, who left everything behind in the house she shared with friends, has both made and found connections here at Pepperdine.
“I have been living with a few juniors and have become friends with them,” Shapiro said. “There are also a lot of people here who know my friends from back at Tulane, so that creates a connection.”
Since she began her college career, Shapiro has planned to attend Pepperdine's School of Law next fall. Now has an additional incentive to come back to the west coast.
“Since some of my friends are juniors, if I get to come back out for law school, I will be able to see them again,” Shapiro said.
Luckily for Tulane students, Pepperdine conducts it's classes in a similar way to the Louisiana university, they said, making the educational transition that much easier.
“School is going well, and I really like my classes,” Shapiro said. “The classes are conducted in a similar way with small classes and lots of class involvement.”
Junior Nicole Hutchinson from Tulane University chose Pepperdine after the hurricane because it was close to home. Hutchinson has been able to become involved on campus, not only within classes and organizations, but with fellow students.
“All my teachers are great and my classes are going well. All of them are interesting," Hutchinson said. “I have definitely met some people that I will be friends with when I go back.”
However, some things about Pepperdine have been unpredictable for her.
“The weather is kind of cold and weird with the fog, and rain,"”Hutchinson said. “But its better than the humidity.”
The universities are re-opening for the spring semester, and while Pepperdine has treated them well, the Louisiana students are ready to return to their homes.
“Everyone is itching to get back,” said Shapiro about her friends who went their separate ways in the wake of the hurricane. “Everyone is missing Tulane. Even though everyone is having different experiences, they are still having a good time wherever they went.”
Hutchinson expressed similar thoughts.
“All of my friends from Tulane are doing fine, but they all miss Tulane,” Hutchinson said. “I am looking forward to going back.”
Pepperdine continues to aid the physical and economic victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Through ongoing efforts with the “WaveRelief” project on campus, several volunteers through the Pepperdine Volunteer Center have continued to organize events to benefit those affected.
PVC intern Seth Allingham has been put in control of the efforts to aid Katrina victims.
“I feel that it is important to respond to the crisis and help others in need,” Allingham said. “I think it's a great opportunity to expose our peers to the reality of others’ lives and the fact that we have the ability to help gives us the responsibility to do so as Christians.”
Most recently, Pepperdine announced the opportunity for Pepperdine staff to donate vacation days to be converted into donations for the relief effort. Staff can donate anywhere from one to 120 hours of vacation time.
The Rotaract Club, as part of a few members’ business classes, has begun asking students, faculty and community members to donate items to be auctioned off on EBay as part of their Pepperdine4Katrina project. Items they are looking for include jewelry, sports equipment and collectibles, and the money earned from these items will then be donated to serve those affected by the hurricane.
Other efforts by the Pepperdine community have come from a wide range of organizations and groups on campus.
On Sept. 10, as a part of Step Forward Day, Pepperdine volunteers traveled to the Los Angeles Dream Center to help with the relief efforts being conducted there and to deliver 50 $200 gift cards to the evacuees who were staying there.
The women’s volleyball team offered free admission to their Sept. 20 match in return for a donated can of food. Students also delivered 40 cases of water and toiletries that were collected to the Dream Center, and a WaveRelief Sand Volleyball Tournament was held on Sept. 24 with the teams’ entrant fees donated to the victims.
The children of Pepperdine faculty and staff have even gotten into the philanthropic spirit, selling lemonade outside of the Tyler Campus Center on Sept. 21.
Several projects are in the works as the Katrina aid efforts continue.
The PVC, through the work of Allingham, is planning to sell WaveRelief T-shirts and hold a WaveRelief benefit concert. Student government is planning a Louisiana Cook-Out, and the Greek groups are planning on holding a fund raising competition. Project Serve will be taking a group of students to Louisiana during spring break to help with the relief efforts however they are needed at that time.
Additionally, Pepperdine has announced its intent to sponsor a trip to Louisiana from Dec. 17 to Dec. 23, during which volunteers will be participating in various projects in Mississippi, New Orleans, and the surrounding areas, depending on need. Applications are available at the PVC Web site and at the PVC office and must be returned by Oct. 31.
For more information on any of these projects and how to get involved, contact the PVC office at ext. 4143.
Submitted 11-01-2005
MALIBU, CA
