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.
