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Georgia Tech continues efforts to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina. Students set a fund-raising goal of $50,000.The Institute temporarily housed 275 Tulane University students on campus and Alexander Memorial Coliseum served as a temporary shelter for nearly 300 evacuees.
"Georgia Tech's response has been incredible. The Georgia Tech faculty, students and staff were right there helping provide services and Tech has bent over backwards to help in any way they could," said Tim English, executive officer of the metro Atlanta chapter of the Red Cross.
The Institute also has opened its undergraduate and graduate admissions process to students from universities closed because of the hurricane. Less than two weeks after the devastating storm, Tech had enrolled 55 displaced students.
In addition, the Georgia Tech Office of Community Service is coordinating a student trip during winter break to assist in the continuing cleanup efforts.
"Georgia Tech's mission is education, research and service," said President Wayne Clough. "I have never been more proud of our students, faculty, staff and alumni who have volunteered time, money and creative talents to assist those in need. The Georgia Tech community has responded with heart and help in a way few others have.
"We are continuing to consider ways we might partner with faculty and graduate students from the University of New Orleans and Tulane to assist in their research and educational efforts," Clough said. "We are also beginning to explore how our faculty and students might help in the major effort needed to plan and rebuild the damaged areas.
"During the coming months and years there will be many opportunities for the talents of our unique community help our fellow citizens in the impacted areas recover from this stunning disaster."
The Alumni Association is connecting Tech grads who want to help with those who need it.The Association's database shows more than 2,000 Georgia Tech alumni living within a 100-mile radius of hurricane-ravaged regions along Gulf Coast. More than 50,000 Alumni Association e-mail recipients were given the opportunity to fill out an online form if they wanted to help or if they needed assistance.
Within days of going online, more than 50 alumni had written messages offering help — a condo in Palm Harbor, Fla.; a garage apartment in Austin, Texas; a house in Dallas; temporary or permanent housing in the Baton Rouge, La., area; commercial business space rent free in Griffin, Ga.; architectural services; and the airlifting of food and cargo on private aircraft. And offers of help continue to pour in.
©2005 Georgia Tech Alumni Association
