August 31, 2005
Dear Colleagues,
As all of you know, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. Officials estimate that flooding will impact eighty percent or more of the city. Due to the flooding, it is difficult for officials to know the extent of the damage to the New Orleans area. Disruptions in phone and utility service are widespread and are causing additional problems. The State Police have closed all roads into New Orleans and southeast Louisiana. At this time, it is almost impossible to contact people who live and work in the New Orleans area.
The entire New Orleans region is under a mandatory evacuation order, which complicates efforts to reach relatives and friends. Many of our faculty, staff, and your students have family and friends in New Orleans. In addition, we have colleagues and friends who teach at colleges and universities in the area. We are all concerned and worried for their safety and well being.
Uppermost in my mind is the safety and well being of our students and employees. Those who are from the New Orleans area are concerned about their families and their homes. As you can imagine, many young students will experience a great deal of stress in the coming weeks. This may impact their studies at ULM. These students may need additional support and I ask for your help.
Some of our students will seek help and emotional support from friends, faculty and the ULM Counseling Center. Other students may not realize that they are stressed and depressed. It is especially important that we offer assistance to these students. Help is available at the ULM Counseling Center by calling 342-5220. Students, faculty and staff can call anytime from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or after 4:30 p.m. by calling the University Police at 342-5350 and they will contact a counselor. This service is free to our students, faculty and staff. In addition, if you believe that a student needs help please contact Karen Foster at 342-5236 and give her the students name and social security number. If the student does not contact the counseling center, Karen will contact the student to ensure their safety and well being. Information on the signs of stress and depression are available by going to the ULM Counseling Center Web site at www.ulm.edu/counselingcenter/ . Please know also that the Counseling Center will also help you and your families if needed.
Help is also available for students, faculty and staff who have displaced family members in the Monroe area. The United Way First Call for Help is a clearing house for numerous social service agencies. They can be reached by dialing 211. Information on other services, including the State Police and FEMA is available by going to www.ulm.edu/katrina/.
We will be working with other universities across the state to enroll students from those universities. I ask for your support for those students during this semester. The people of Louisiana are resilient and, with time, we will make it through this tragedy. Your help and concern will provide the support our students and fellow faculty members need to make it through these trying times. I appreciate your assistance.
James E. Cofer, Sr.
ULM President