Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast just as Wesleyan students were busy unpacking their belongings, setting up their rooms, and reconnecting with friends they haven’t seen since May. Our first week back coincided with one of the most catastrophic events in recent memory.
Given the suddenness of the news and the unacceptably slow response from the federal government, Wesleyan—both as an institution and a body of individuals—should be commended for what it has done so far. The university is offering admission to Connecticut residents who had been studying in hurricane-affected areas. Last night, the Dean’s Office and the WSA sponsored a candlelight vigil in memory of those lost in the floods. Some students are raising relief money at parties.
It’s time to take our early response a step further. The Administration must establish a relief fund similar to the one established for last winter’s tsunami. Professors should offer panels, similar to those held after the September 11 attacks, to contextualize the disaster. Student activist groups need to mobilize to collect donations for relief and energize listservs with discussion on other ways to help.
Perhaps most important is finding a way to establish long-term relief. It’s clear that those most hurt by the hurricane were the region’s most disadvantaged. It was those without the means to evacuate who were seen on television screens at the New Orleans Superdome and being airlifted from rooftops. Providing food and temporary housing for these people who endured one of our nation’s worst tragedies is not enough. The University should collectively look for ways to provide resources to help these people not only regain what they lost, but to find a way to make sure they are no longer the left behind.
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