Nancy Wilson is used to large-scale service projects, and she knows the importance of knowing just what needs to be done.
Wilson, the Director and Associate Dean of the University College of Citizenship and Public Service, has become the de facto coordinator of the various Tufts student, faculty and staff relief efforts in response to Hurricane Katrina.
"There's relief, and then there's really trying to understand what happened," she said. "There's a lot more than just relief that has to happen."
Faculty and staff members have turned to their fields when deciding on a way to help. They have been "adding their expertise, not just opening their wallets," Wilson said.
The Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine sent packages of supplies and drugs to protect the animals affected by the hurricane. The packages were requested by the Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Assistance Team, and the donations were sent to Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine after the hurricane hit.
Brian Maran, a student at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, is coordinating the donations from across the country.
In an e-mail to Vet School Clinical Sciences Professor Mary Rose Paradis, Maran said the packages were appreciated and that the Mississippi Displaced Animal Shelter is currently housing over 500 dogs.
"I have no count on cats and other animals, but have been told 'lots and lots' of horses," Maran's e-mail read. "Every animal is in need of veterinary care."
The Vet School was prepared to send veterinarians and technicians to meet 2,500 people with their animals in the hurricane-affected area, but the trip was called off because it was not needed. More supplies and drugs will be sent, though.
Staff members at the Tufts Administration Building on Holland Street are planning a fundraising campaign to send money to Habitat for Humanity to help rebuild the affected areas.
"This is a really good way to try to do something," project coordinator Karin Barry, who works in financial services, said. "We're going to try to keep it going past hurricane season."
Wilson said faculty and staff at other universities are also making an effort to help. "Most faculty are responding by reaching out through their networks all around the country," she said.
Schools at different universities have collaborated, as well. Tufts' School of Medicine has welcomed medical students from Tulane University to continue their studies and clinical rotations at Tufts. The Medical School has also offered to provide these students with housing.
The University received 57 offers from off-campus students, faculty, staff, and community members to host guest students. Dean of Students Bruce Reitman sent a letter to these volunteers, thanking them for their generosity. So far, none of the offers have been taken up.
Reitman said administrators have made accommodating the approximately 40 Tulane University undergraduates who were admitted to Tufts a priority. "We've all been working substantially to get that going," he said.
