Eastern offers 200 dorm beds to Katrina victims
Stephanie Schell/Assistant News editor
Issue date: 9/8/05 Section: News
Clothing, food, water and a place to learn. For many students on the Gulf Coast, these four items may have become blessings.
Hurricane Katrina disrupted thousands of lives on the Gulf Coast, and Eastern is helping some students from the area with the trauma of being displaced.
"These people have lost everything," said Kenna Middleton, director for University Housing. "We don't want them to lose a semester of school."
Eastern reached out to these students by contacting educational institutions on the Gulf Coast and by notifying various media outlets.
Marc Whitt, associate vice president for public relations and marketing, said 43 media and educational outlets, including USA Today and outlets in Biloxi, Miss., Baton Rouge and New Orleans, La., have been contacted by Eastern to help spread the word to displaced students that Eastern is accepting applicants until Friday.
The deadline is set to keep students from enrolling and falling too far behind in their work.
University Housing has 200 beds available for displaced students attending Eastern, said Middleton.
None of the 200 slots have been filled; however, two students have been admitted to Eastern, Good said. Another student is expected to enroll.
"We don't know (how many are coming) until they show," Good said. "Many that will come know someone here."
Many people on the Gulf Coast have been left with nothing. The students who come to Eastern may not be an exception. Students who have been displaced and attend Eastern are not expected to pay the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition. A scholarship is available to pick up the tab.
The rest of the students' tuition bill will be delayed, Good said.
"No (displaced) student has to come up with the money up front," Good said.
The displaced students will also receive $300 worth of free textbooks and supplies from Barnes & Noble, said Lisa Crowe, manager of the bookstore on campus.
Hurricane Katrina disrupted thousands of lives on the Gulf Coast, and Eastern is helping some students from the area with the trauma of being displaced.
"These people have lost everything," said Kenna Middleton, director for University Housing. "We don't want them to lose a semester of school."
Eastern reached out to these students by contacting educational institutions on the Gulf Coast and by notifying various media outlets.
Marc Whitt, associate vice president for public relations and marketing, said 43 media and educational outlets, including USA Today and outlets in Biloxi, Miss., Baton Rouge and New Orleans, La., have been contacted by Eastern to help spread the word to displaced students that Eastern is accepting applicants until Friday.
The deadline is set to keep students from enrolling and falling too far behind in their work.
University Housing has 200 beds available for displaced students attending Eastern, said Middleton.
None of the 200 slots have been filled; however, two students have been admitted to Eastern, Good said. Another student is expected to enroll.
"We don't know (how many are coming) until they show," Good said. "Many that will come know someone here."
Many people on the Gulf Coast have been left with nothing. The students who come to Eastern may not be an exception. Students who have been displaced and attend Eastern are not expected to pay the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition. A scholarship is available to pick up the tab.
The rest of the students' tuition bill will be delayed, Good said.
"No (displaced) student has to come up with the money up front," Good said.
The displaced students will also receive $300 worth of free textbooks and supplies from Barnes & Noble, said Lisa Crowe, manager of the bookstore on campus.