BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES SUFFER IMMENSELY FROM HURRICANE KATRINA
Many HBCU students may have to lose an entire semester or more.
Long Beach, CA (BlackNews.com) - Historically-Black colleges and universities are constantly faced with challenges that can include state funding issues, inadequate housing, poor student-teacher ratios, and even violence. However, the most recent challenge is none other than Hurricane Katrina.
The deadly natural disaster has affected several HBCUs in the gulf coast area including Dilliard University, Xavier University and Southern University in New Orleans, and Tougaloo College in Mississippi. Campuses are damaged, students are stranded, and the school year may not start this year at all.
Fortunately, several organizations are stepping up to the plate to offer some relief. One of these is The United Negro College Fund (www.uncf.org), which has initiated a special online relief fund that people can donate to.
Dr. Michael Lomax of the UNCF, comments, "We need longtime supporters and new friends as well to help us raise the funds our schools will need to begin the long and costly rebuilding process."
In addition, the National Association of Equal Opportunity In Higher Education (www.nafeo.org) has launched a program seeking to coordinate with other universities to provide alternatives for students enrolled at affected HBCUs.
Many wonder though, whether this will be enough to avoid having Black students lose an entire semester or more.
HBCUconnect.com, the largest online destination for HBCU students and alumni, plans to encourage their thousands of members to do what they can to help. William Moss comments, "We are creating a dedicated section on the web site (www.hbcuconnect.com) that will feature exclusive news, forums, and advice on how to help these HBCUs. We also plan to setup an online fund that people can donate to."
Many say that the key to helping these HBCUs is to donate money and to create an awareness about the situation. Likely, Tom Joyner, Oprah Winfrey, and other celebrity graduates of Black colleges, will launch initiatives of their own.
Dante Lee, CEO of BlackNews.com, comments, "Anyone who has media power should urge their audience to help. Every graduate of an HBCU, including myself, must take action."
In addition to Black colleges, many black businesses and black families have been destroyed. To help these, interested ones can donate to Red Cross (www.redcross.org) or can volunteer by contacting USA Freedom Corps (www.usafreedomcorps.gov)
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Thursday, September 1st 2005 at 11:50AM
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