Response to Hurricane Katrina
To the Boston University Community:
The tragic and terrible hurricane and the subsequent flooding along the United States Gulf Coast have saddened the entire Boston University community. We are in the process of contacting students and alumni who may have been directly affected by this disaster. To date, we have not been notified that any member of our community has fallen victim to this tragedy. We are also eager to have all of our students back at the University and to provide whatever medical, counseling, spiritual and other student support services to them as may be necessary. In addition, students, faculty and staff who have particular concerns, questions or other issues related to the tragedy are encouraged to contact either my office (617) 353-2200 or the Offices of the Dean of Students (617) 353-4126 or the Provost (617) 353-2230. The support network for students includes the following:
- The Mental Health and Counseling Clinic at Student Health Services, 881 Commonwealth Avenue, (617) 353-3569, for professional help;
- Marsh Chapel, 735 Commonwealth Avenue, (617) 353-3050, for students who wish to speak with a pastoral counselor, gather in fellowship or spend time in private prayer; and
- Resident assistants, who are available each business day and on-call in each residence hall and residence area beginning at 5 p.m. and continuously on the weekend to assist students and to refer them to the on-campus support services. You may reach the Office of Residence Life at (617) 353-4380.
In additional to the enormous personal losses caused by Katrina, institutions of higher education all across the path of the storm have had their classes disrupted, including our sister institution, Tulane University. We believe it is critically important to do what we can to help, and, as a result, have decided to open our doors to Tulane students for the fall semester. Full-time undergraduate students at Tulane University are eligible to enroll tuition-free at Boston University for the fall semester. Graduate and professional students may also contact BU schools and will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The law and medical schools at BU have already arranged for several visiting students from Tulane this fall.
I am confident I speak for all of Boston University in expressing our deepest sympathies to the victims and families affected by this disaster. We all hope that through aid from local, federal and philanthropic support the region will rapidly recover from this natural disaster.
Sincerely,
Robert A. Brown
President