Living Our Motto: Hurricane Katrina

In the wake of Katrina’s devastation, Willamette University began mobilizing to assist affected individuals and communities in the following ways, large and small:

Tuition-free Semester to Affected Students
First and foremost, Willamette University is offering one tuition-free semester to displaced students in good standing wishing to come to Oregon. As of Friday, September 16th, four students had enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts; three are from Tulane University and one is from the University of New Orleans. [Read the press release and the president’s first and second letters to the university community.]

Willamette Pledges to Match All Monetary Donations to the Red Cross
Willamette University has agreed to match any donation to the Red Cross made by university faculty, staff and students. To do so, write a check to the Red Cross with “Katrina” in the for/note/memo and deliver the check to the Business Office (Waller Hall, first floor). In addition, John Balling, a member of the local Red Cross board, noted that you may wish to indicate that a portion of your gift go to the local Red Cross as they are incurring additional costs in sending aid to the hurricane survivors. As of October 27, faculty, students and staff have donated more than $55,748 to the American Red Cross (including funds matched by the University). The University donation match ended October 15. [Read the press release and the president’s first and second letters to the university community. The current donation amount appear in Inside Willamette on October 27, 2005.]

Payroll Deduction
Dean Hawkinson is trying to determine if it is possible to set up a regular payroll deduction plan for employees in which the money would go into the Red Cross fund. [Read Dean Hawkinson’s Message.]

United Methodist Committee on Relief
As our university is related to the United Methodist faith, Holli Davenport has highlighted the efforts of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) as a donation choice. [Read her e-mail to the university community.]

Health Kits
Holli Davenport is coordinating the collection of “health kits” in the Chaplain’s office for shipment to the Gulf area. [Read Dean Hawkinson’s Message.]

Take a Break Service Program
Dean Hawkinson has indicated that they are looking at how the Take a Break program (TaB), which places students in communities to engage in service during spring break, might assist communities affected by the hurricane. As of September 19, Dean Hawkinson reports that Community Service Learning is planning two trips to the Gulf area (in January and March, respectively) for students, faculty and staff. These groups will undertake hands-on volunteer relief work. We anticipate that the January group, which may be done in conjunction with Western Oregon University, could attract a sizable number of participants. Fundraising for the trips to the Gulf states will take place at Jazz Night on October 7 and Classical Music Night on October 8, both at Smith Auditorium. In addition, one half of the money made on the sale of CDs will be devoted to the travel fund. [Read Dean Hawkinson’s Message.]

As of October 25, TaB announced that they would be sponsoring a service immersion trip to Baton Rouge, Louisiana from January 1-12th, 2006. The trip is focused on helping individuals affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and will taking 10 members of the Willamette University community along with 10 members of the Western Oregon University community. This trip requires current tetanus shots, disaster response training, and a dedication to substantial fundraising on a short timeline.

On November 17, Director of Community Service Learning Khela Singer-Adams reported that nine WU students and one staff member are going to spend part of January serving those impacted by hurricanes Katrina and Rita, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. They will be assisting community members in clearing debris and beginning to re-build homes. This trip is completely dependent on funds raised, with the primary costs being transportation and food. There is also a need for gift cards to distribute to families. It is suggested to us that gift cards to Home Depot, Lowes, and Target would be most helpful. In addition small tools are needed, such as crow bar, hammer, wrench, screwdriver, respirator masks, safety goggles, and work gloves. If you are able to assist with any of the above items please contact Khela at 503-370-6807 or ksingera@willamette.edu.

Assisting Oregonians Active in Relief Work
The office of Community Service Learning is investigating ways in which Willamette students can volunteer to help the families of Oregonians who are active in relief work in the Gulf area. [Read Dean Hawkinson’s Message.]

Friends of the Library Book Sale
The Hatfield Library is currently collecting items for use in the Friends of the Library book sale, which will take place Friday, January 27, 2006 from 9:00-5:00 in the 24-hour study room. The library is collecting used books, as well as CD’s, tapes, and videos, but must exclude damaged materials, older textbooks, and magazines. These donations are all tax-deductible. This year, the Friends of the Library has decided that all proceeds from the book sale will go to help an academic library damaged in the recent hurricanes.

To donate, mark your bags, boxes, or individual books with Friends of the Library, and drop them off at the Hatfield Library circulation desk, or in the Administrative Assistant’s office. Again, all used books are welcome, but we especially encourage art and photography books, fiction and literature, mysteries and westerns, cookbooks, nature and gardening books, children’s books, and books on the Northwest. Questions should be directed to Julie, at 503-370-6312. [This information was provided by Deborah Dancik, university librarian, on December 5, 2005.]

Bracelet Fundraising Drive
The student club Blazing Hearts and Wild Minds (formerly Freaks and Geeks) is conducting a fundraising drive to take full advantage of the university’s gift matching pledge with a home-grown “Katrina Relief” bracelet. [Read their recent e-mail to the university community and how to participate.]

Glass Bead Necklace Fundraising Drive
The four CLA class councils will compete in selling New Orleans style Mardi Gras glass bead necklaces in their respective class colors. Representatives of each class will be selling their beads at the all-campus picnic during Reunion Weekend, the afternoon of September 24. [Read Dean Hawkinson’s Message.]

Blood Drive
The Panhellenic Council is sponsoring a Red Cross blood drive on campus on September 27. [Read Dean Hawkinson’s Message.]

Sigma Alpha Epsilon Benefit
The members of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity organized a benefit event that featured performances by five different bands as well as other activities. All proceeds were donated to the American Red Cross [Read President’s Third Message.]

Every Dollar Helps: Collecting Change
Under ASWU direction, spare change jars have been distributed and are being collected from Goudy Commons, The Willamette Store, the Mailroom, the Millstream Market and the Montag Convenience Store. Change will also be collected at the Classified Luncheon on September 21 and the Administrative Luncheon on September 22. [Read Dean Hawkinson’s Message.]

TIUA
TIUA students and staff have contributed $700 and Kaneko Foundation doubled this to $1400 and sent it to the Red Cross. [Read Dean Hawkinson’s Message.]

Bon Appetit
Bon Appetit has made a corporate contribution. [Read Dean Hawkinson’s Message.]

Additional information will be posted or updated on this page as it becomes available. Suggestions, comments, questions?