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Reid Wick, professor of music industry studies at Loyola University in New Orleans, volunteered at area hospitals in the days following Hurricane Katrina. He was a "strong man," assisting in the transportation of patients on boats and helicopters. Recently, he spent time in Nashville, raising funds for New Orleans musicians in need.
It is the efforts of people like Wick that have left Loyola University President Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J., eager to return to a fully functional campus next semester.
Wildes spoke to displaced Loyola students, their parents, and area alumni yesterday in the Murray Function Room of the Yawkey Athletic Center, focusing on the resurrection of the damaged school.
He began by thanking BC for the hospitality in accepting displaced students, but the sentiment, he said, extended to all Jesuit universities in the country. "I don't know where we would be without the support of the Jesuit universities across the United States," said Wildes.
He then reassured those in attendance that the Loyola campus was still intact. The actual storm did little damage, but when the levees broke certain buildings were harmed. Relative to other parts of the city, Loyola was fortunate to not have any extensive damages, Wildes said.
"It's not about rebuilding, and it's not about resuscitation. It's about the resurrection of strength that was there before," said Wildes.
It remains a challenge for Loyola to meet its goal of having the university completely reopened by Jan. 9, but Wildes remained optimistic. "I am as certain of that as I am certain of anything in my life at this point," he said.
There are major hurdles that still must be cleared, including figuring out housing for university employees that live in the area, he said.
Sixty percent of faculty and staff experienced damage of some kind to their homes, and many lost their property completely. The university is currently in talks with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to figure out a housing situation for those who work on campus, said Wildes.
He also expressed pride in being able to continue paying the salaries of employees during their time away from campus. Without tuition payments, the school has had to rely heavily upon alumni donations to continue supporting their faculty and staff, Wildes said.
Some of these donations have come from this current trip that the alumni department of Loyola is leading. Since the hurricane left school officials displaced, they decided to travel to each of the 30 Loyola alumni chapters across the country.
"We've invited alumni, parents, and students to give them the opportunity to address questions and make donations for the relief campaign," said Edward D'Antoni, director of alumni relations for Loyola University.
One of the highlights of the trip around the nation was at the University of Houston, D'Antoni said. The school agreed to house the law school while Loyola recovered, one of the many acts of outreach that Loyola experienced in the aftermath of Katrina.
"The response has been phenomenal," said Frances Coolidge, chair of the department of philosophy at Loyola University. Coolidge was given an office at the College of the Holy Cross to continue working after his home office in New Orleans was demolished. He said that he expects his family to return home in the near future.
Carol Vega, a Walpole, Mass. native and mother of a Loyola student currently studying at American University, said her daughter is looking forward to returning to New Orleans. She said American University offered to let her daughter stay for the spring semester, but she declined, wanting to return to Loyola.
"She wants to get back as soon as possible," said Vega. "She wants to help rebuild."
Most students will be returning to Loyola for next semester, unless they officially transfer to the college at which they are currently studying. Nicole Waivers, a Loyola junior studying at BC, said she is still unsure whether she will go back to New Orleans. "It's been great," she said. "It's different, but it's been fun because it is different."
One mother asked Wildes why Loyola won't give students the option to stay for another semester at their respective schools. He responded by saying that it is the mission of the university to bring their students back as soon as it is safe. "We are a university, and part of what makes it work is having students and staff on campus," he said.
Other schools in the area, such as Xavier University or Dillard College, were hit much harder by the hurricane, and many of their buildings will not be repaired by next semester.
In an effort to maintain a sense of community, Wildes said Loyola will offer their facilities to professors from Xavier or Dillard when they are not in use.
After Wildes spoke, a short film was shown that described the experience of Loyola students at BC.
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