Gulf Coast students move on after Katrina

Exactly 21 weeks ago, America was hit by what many referred to as Mother Nature's 9/11: Hurricane Katrina.

Although it was miles away from N.C. State, in one way or another, the NCSU community became intertwined with victims of Katrina.

Approximately 35 students displaced by Katrina, attended the University almost four weeks after class started for the fall semester. Students were in the groove of their classes and many were preparing for their first exam.

Mike Giancola, director of the Center of Student Leadership, Ethics, and Public Service, together with other faculty and staff members on campus, arranged for the displaced students to join the community.

Giancola has been working at NCSU for eight years and said he has never seen something similar happen at the University.

"It was a university-wide response to help out," Giancola said. "The entire university was helping out in ways for these students to have easier transitions."

Giancola said there were a variety of programs set up for the students who joined the university, like Wolfpack Mentor, where a faculty or staff member helped displaced students with issues on a one-on-one basis -- transitional, personal or otherwise.

"Not all students took advantage of it, but several did," he said.

Doris Zoe Hoskins, a junior in chemistry, was one of the students who took advantage of the mentor program. Hoskins was a student at to Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans, but her family is in North Carolina.

Hoskins said although she had the opportunity to go back to class in Louisiana, she decided to stay here.

"I do miss my university and I miss my friends, but I am more studious here than I was over there," Hoskins said.

Hoskins said she was very grateful to the University welcoming Katrina victims. "The institution and administration have been very good to us Katrina victims," Hoskins said.

Hoskins said the mentor program was also very helpful to her transition at NCSU.

"They gave us a tour of campus, meal plans and a place to stay," Hoskins said.

Giancola also mentioned the Compassion in Action campaign, a combined effort with the entire community that raised more than $78,000 for the Red Cross.

William Mitchell, a lifelong-education student in psychology, is one of the students who joined NCSU after Katrina hit. He is still here although he did have a chance to go back to Louisiana.

"It wouldn't have been much of an option because I have nowhere to stay in New Orleans," Mitchell said. "Although my university is open, I don't have a place to stay."

Mitchell said for the most part, he is pleased with his experiences at NCSU.

"The professors helped as much as possible and although the financial aspect is a bit rough on me, it's been decent," he said.

Mitchell eventually hopes to get in as a regular student at NCSU rather than going back to Louisiana, where he won't have as many opportunities.

"I am here right now because I have no choice," Mitchell said. "Rather than going back to New Orleans and doing nothing, I'd rather stay here and be productive."

Mitchell said he is prepared to do what he must to stay in Raleigh.

"If I have to take a loan, then that's something I have to do," he said.

Corey Smith, a junior in zoology, is originally from Louisiana. Smith started off as a student at NCSU but in the fall of 2004, decided she wanted to be closer to home and transferred to Louisiana State University. A few weeks later, when Katrina hit, Smith decided to come back to NCSU.

"I was three and a half weeks late and the teachers weren't helpful at all," Smith said. "I got into all the classes that I needed but I had to take an exam my first week at the University."

Rather than stay in Raleigh with the extra pressure from school work, Smith decided to go back to New Orleans and worked at a vet hospital for the semester.

"There was a lot of work [at NCSU] and I didn't have time to study for tests and catch up," Smith said. "I had two weeks to do the old WebAssigns that were already assigned but had new ones to deal with too," Smith said.

Smith however, came back to NCSU for the current semester.

"I had a lot of classes going towards my degree here," Smith said. "The population in Baton Rouge has tripled since the hurricane, so there are a lot of people at LSU now."

Carla Chirico, a sophomore in marketing, transferred to NCSU from the University of New Orleans, and decided to stay at NCSU this semester.

"I had the chance to leave, but our house is gone, so we lost everything," Chirico said.

"People that have gone back to New Orleans, have contacted me and told me that it's not the same," Chirico said. "There were even shootings on MLK day at the parade."

Chirico said she decided to stay because of the opportunities here. Chirico's family will be relocating to North Carolina too.

"There are better opportunities here than if I were to graduate from the University of New Orleans," Chirico said.

Chirico was very pleased with the NCSU community: staff, faculty and especially students.

"The people here are so nice, generous and helpful," Chirico said. "I have never met people like this in my entire life."

When Chirico first arrived from New Orleans, she was staying on campus, where she was provided with a school bag and school supplies.

"People at N.C. State are so nice," Chirico said. "Half the reason I decided to stay is because the people are so friendly and humble."

Giselle Hellemn, a freshman in pre-pharmacy, moved back to New Orleans after staying in Raleigh during the fall 2004 semester with her family.

Hellemn is now attending Delgado Community College, a lot of which is still under construction.

"There are four buildings that are usable and our library is trashed," she said.

Although Hellemn had the chance to stay at NCSU, she said it was really nice to come home and see her immediate family.

"I liked N.C. State a lot," Hellemn said. "The people were really nice and helpful, but it's really good to come home and be with my family."

Hellemn particularly remembered the chemistry professor she had amongst other fond memories.

"I really liked the teachers at N.C. State," Hellemn said. "They were really nice and helpful. They came in early and stayed late and helped me catch up with all my classes."

Hellemn commented on how much her New Orleans has changed.

"Restaurants close early, and even Wal-Mart closes at 3 p.m.," she said.

Hellemn said there was trash everywhere and many houses are still pending demolition.

Katie Trippe, a freshman in liberal arts, also moved back to New Orleans to attend Tulane University.

Trippe said her experiences at NCSU were pleasant and encouraging.

"It was so easy signing up for everything," Trippe said. "The teachers were so helpful and often they would stay after class to help us."

Trippe said she was able to room with her roommate from Tulane University in a dorm on campus and was very thankful to those at NCSU.

"It was so nice to have them be so helpful and so generous and it made it so much easier on me," she said.