Richmond Assists Its Students From Hurricane Disaster Area
September 1, 2005
The University of Richmond is offering counseling and other support services to its students whose families were impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Approximately 50 Richmond undergraduate and graduate students hail from the Gulf Coast region and more than half report that their families were directly affected by the storm.
“Some of our students don’t know if they have a home to go back to and are having difficulty communicating with their families due to the lack of phone service in many of the areas struck by the hurricane,” said President William E. Cooper. “We are helping these students deal with any challenges they are facing during this difficult period.”
The university’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Chaplaincy and coordinate colleges’ deans’ offices are available to those students needing counseling assistance. In addition, university staff will help students who may need to apply or reapply for financial aid.
Cannon Memorial Chapel and the Interfaith Prayer Room in the Wilton Center will remain open 24 hours a day for the next several days for prayer and meditation for all members of the campus community. The Chaplaincy will hold special 10-minute daily prayer services at noon in the Chapel beginning Sept. 2, and will pray for all of those affected by the hurricane during chapel service this Sunday at 3:16 p.m.
Richmond is accepting, tuition-free for the fall semester, a limited number of undergraduate and law students dislocated from colleges and universities in the area devastated by the hurricane.
A number of student-led relief efforts for victims of the hurricane are being organized as well. In addition, the Center for Civic Engagement will coordinate a community forum to discuss the issues surrounding the Gulf Coast disaster. This event will feature an expert panel that includes Richmond faculty and students, as well as an open discussion. Additional details about this event and other hurricane relief efforts are available on the Spider Community Disaster Response Web site at www.richmond.edu/disasterresponse.