As the first group of Tulane University students arrive on campus for orientation, Tufts students are reaching out to help victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Four students - seniors Jason Karp, Jordan Marton, and Daniel Stuckey and junior Nick Haslett - are launching www.studentsdonate.org. The Web site, created with assistance from the University College of Citizenship and Public Service, will encourage and facilitate student donations to the hurricane relief effort.
"Students don't feel they can make a difference, but there are 14.4 million college students," Karp said. "Collectively, we can make a huge difference." The students hope the Web site catches on at other universities.
The Web site will tally money donated by different student groups. "We hope to generate some friendly competition," Karp said. The group will also be receiving assistance from the Tufts Community Union Senate.
In an e-mail sent to the Tufts community yesterday after meetings with University administrators, President Lawrence Bacow said he appreciated the large number of students who volunteered to provide housing for guest students.
Senior Olivia Jaras volunteered her apartment. "As a college student I can't really offer to donate money," she said. "But I can offer space so that another student can continue her life as normal as possible."
According to administrators, however, housing is not the priority. "At this point housing is a secondary issue," Dean of Students Bruce Reitman said. "We have enough beds, and enough local students volunteering."
The most pressing issue is the case-by-case review of Tulane students applying to Tufts. "The process is arduous," Reitman said. "We're moving on it quickly, but it's a big effort."
Orientation for the first group of arriving students is scheduled for 8 a.m. on Friday, and another group is expected on Monday. According to Reitman, Monday will also be the day the Office of Admissions makes its final undergraduate acceptance decisions.
Bacow's e-mail said the deans and faculty of the Tufts graduate schools are still considering admitting graduate students affected by the hurricane. No decision has yet been made on whether the undergraduate Tulane students will be able to remain at Tufts beyond this semester.
From Monday through the following Tuesday, Sept. 20, the Theta Chi fraternity and the Leonard Carmichael Society (LCS) will be passing out Mardi Gras beads to students who donate one dollar to the Red Cross Relief Fund. Theta Chi and LCS plan to hold a benefit concert of student music groups and a barbeque, where local restaurants will donate food to be sold for hurricane relief.
According to sophomore Eric Connelly, the philanthropy co-chair of Theta Chi, the two groups coordinated their efforts quickly. "This will be a concentrated week of events," he said. "We plan on having more events down the road."
Individual students are doing what they can to help people affected by the hurricane. Bacow's e-mail recommended students bring ideas to University College Director and Associate Dean Nancy Wilson.
Sophomore Jahn Sood made a CD of his songs, and he is donating the proceeds of September sales to the Red Cross National Disaster Relief Fund.
"Music is what I do," Sood said. "Everyone can help by doing what they do best."
