By Barb Teed
NCC relief efforts for one of the largest natural disasters in American history are getting help as well as criticism.
"The student senate and Phi Theta Kappa have begun the first efforts on campus for Hurricane Katrina donations," Ralph Anderson, dean of student affairs, said.
NCC student Erik Eliason is leading the Hurricane Katrina Relief Drive. Donation canisters were distributed around campus September 6, he said.
Jessica Allison, NCC student senator, finds it frustrating that the same campus clubs end up doing all the work for every relief effort.
"Why is it that the senate is responsible for everything?" she said. "I think other NCC student organizations should assist the senate in fundraising for victims of Hurricane Katrina. In addition, if other students are concerned about Normandale's involvement in aide, they are encouraged to start a club, like a fundraising for emergencies club."
Allison said the student senate organized the Hurricane Ivan and tsunami relief funds last year.
The Black Student Alliance is also helping with the NCC Hurricane Katrina Relief Drive, Eliason said.
31 clubs and organizations are active on campus, according to a NCC Office of Student Life information flyer.
When asked why only three out of 31 NCC clubs and organizations are involved in the Hurricane Katrina Relief Drive, Eliason said he "had no comment". Eliason is vice president of the student senate and vice president of scholarship for Phi Theta Kappa.
Tim Wilson, student leader of the Black Student Alliance, encourages the student body to get involved with the drive. "It's true that there are multiple organizations in this great institution and each of these great clubs and organizations play a significant role on various cultural issues throughout the school year," he said. "These organizations also play a significant role in positively affecting other people's lives. That's what it's all about, people being there for other people just because they're people."
Inver Hills Community College enlisted the help of many of their campus clubs to support Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, according to Shelly Auldrich, admissions representative. "Many clubs pooled together to raise funds and they collected over $400 in one day", she said.
With tuition and books freshly paid, some NCC students already facing a tight money squeeze are finding it difficult to participate in the Hurricane Katrina Relief Drive.
"The hardest part of asking the students to help individually is that a lot of them are working with a very tight budget for their own lives," NCC student Rhiannon Way said. "It's hard to ask people to donate money when they are struggling. When I started here a year ago, I had to choose between food or gas, so I couldn't afford to donate to anybody."
Eliason said even small donations will help. "Just give as little or as much as you can," he said. "You still have a roof over your head and most of these people don't. We are trying to help where we can. We are just trying to help each other out."
The Minnesota State College Student Association, a statewide 100,000 student member grassroots organization, has been leading efforts for a donation drive around the state.
"Our relief efforts are just coming together now and are very much a work in progress," Nicki Bottko, MSCSA director of development, said. "There are many student senates that are already doing other projects. I know of one campus that intends to send volunteers down to help out. These efforts are hard to track and are different at each campus."
In a letter sent September 6 by MSCSA to campus college leaders, Bottko and MSCSA president Patrick Christner requested hurricane donations be brought to their September Leadership Conference and to the Fall General Assembly held in October at Cragun's Resort. "It is our duty as leaders at our campuses and in our communities to help in whatever way that we can" the letter said.
In addition to seeking donations, students displaced by the hurricane are seeking colleges around the country to allow them enrollment in classes.
NCC recently had such a request, according to Rick Smith, director of admissions. "So far, we've had only one call from a student saying they were affected by Katrina and wondering about enrollment options," he said. "Because we are already two weeks into the fall term we are offering them, as we do with any students who contact us about enrollment at this time of the year, fall classes that have not yet started or early enrollment for spring term. "
Smith thinks Hurricane Katrina survivors dealing with disaster and relocation issues would find it difficult to catch up on missed classes.
"While our principal job is to enroll students, we also are committed to providing students with a transition to college that maximizes their ability to succeed academically once they do enroll," Smith said.
The NCC admissions office is advising displaced students to look at colleges that have not yet started or just starting their fall term, Smith said. "We would bend over backwards to help get them settled. We try to operate on good will and hope they are honest and not just taking advantage of the situation."
Another student inquiry from the hurricane area was referred to a college in the south, according to Anderson. "We are making plans for the spring semester enrollment of the refugees that may relocate to our area," he said.
Assisting college students from the Hurricane Katrina disaster area is a daunting task facing the Minnesota State College and Universities system.
NCC president Dr. Kathi Hiyane-Brown said MnSCU college presidents met September 6 to discuss displaced students. "The Chancellor's office of the MnSCU system is coordinating a system wide response to helping students and their families," she said.
Melinda Voss, public relations director at MnSCU, said they are working on solutions. "We're still determining our course of action," she said. "As you can imagine, with 32 colleges and universities, we have to make sure exactly what is feasible, so it's taking a little time. We don't want to promise more than we can deliver."
According to their website,
www.mnscu.edu , the 32 campuses in the MnSCU system can accommodate at least 300 students whose college educations were disrupted by Hurricane Katrina. The system is separate from the University of Minnesota. David Mathieu, NCC vice president for academic and student affairs, said they will do their best help. "While the system is gearing up, I think it is safe to say that Normandale will do whatever is necessary to support students caught in the Katrina aftermath," he said.
District 40 State Senator Bill Belanger suggested people check the Governor's website for the most recent updates regarding the refugees. "All we know is that the displaced citizens will arrive sometime later this week," he said. "Beyond that we do not know if they will stay there or what the plan is. We've never been there so it's kind of try and see what works. Regarding Normandale College, I have heard nothing."
After the donation drive, the Black Student Alliance plans on continuing with assistance. "This is going to be a huge effort with many long days ahead for those affected," Wilson said. "We also hope to soon lead the rebuilding effort through The Minnesota Habitat for Humanity here at Normandale. This is one of the many organizations taking a lead in the rebuilding process for many of those families displaced by the storm whose homes were destroyed."
