Louisiana students adjust to Tennessee college life
Robby Trail
Issue date: 9/22/05 Section: News
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Justin Irvin said he and his family are more fortunate than many people who were forced to flee New Orleans as Hurricane Katrina approached.
Irvin, a junior business administration major, said his family has been adopted by Ridgedale Baptist Church. The church has provided them with a place to stay for the next six months, he said.
University spokesperson Chuck Cantrell said 22 students from the Gulf region have enrolled at UTC.
"We've done everything we can to get [the students] in classes and find them a place to live," he said.
Linda Dolan, the senior policy officer for the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, said 581 students have enrolled in colleges and universities in Tennessee. The University of Memphis has enrolled 308 of those students, the most of any college or university in the state, she said.
"It is apparent from the reported number of admissions that state colleges and universities have welcomed these students and will continue to assist them until their home campuses have reopened," Dolan said.
Senior Rachel Douglas said making the transition from Tulane University to UTC has been made easier because of the generosity of people on campus.
Douglas, a business major, said she and her sister left New Orleans two or three days before Katrina hit.
"We really didn't bring that much," she said. "This is the second or third time we've had to leave for a storm, so we thought we would be back in two or three days."
Douglas said she received her books for free and hasn't had to pay anything for classes or housing.
Cantrell said several faculty members have gone out of their way to help students get caught up because of missed classes.
Irvin said he has had a lot of reading and studying to do, but he is catching up in his classes.
"The faculty told me they are willing to help me in any way possible," he said. "If I need any help, they told me to come to their office and talk to them."
Irvin said his family left New Orleans with the intention of going to Dallas, but Interstate 10 West out of town was closed because of traffic.
"We had to head north," he said. "Chattanooga was the first city that had an available hotel room."
Irvin said the church helped his parents find jobs.
"We are moving on with our lives and are grateful because we could be in a much worse situation than we are now," he said.
UT-Knoxville has enrolled 95 displaced students, and UT-Martin has enrolled two, records show. Fifty-three displaced students have enrolled in community colleges.
Irvin, a junior business administration major, said his family has been adopted by Ridgedale Baptist Church. The church has provided them with a place to stay for the next six months, he said.
University spokesperson Chuck Cantrell said 22 students from the Gulf region have enrolled at UTC.
"We've done everything we can to get [the students] in classes and find them a place to live," he said.
Linda Dolan, the senior policy officer for the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, said 581 students have enrolled in colleges and universities in Tennessee. The University of Memphis has enrolled 308 of those students, the most of any college or university in the state, she said.
"It is apparent from the reported number of admissions that state colleges and universities have welcomed these students and will continue to assist them until their home campuses have reopened," Dolan said.
Senior Rachel Douglas said making the transition from Tulane University to UTC has been made easier because of the generosity of people on campus.
Douglas, a business major, said she and her sister left New Orleans two or three days before Katrina hit.
"We really didn't bring that much," she said. "This is the second or third time we've had to leave for a storm, so we thought we would be back in two or three days."
Douglas said she received her books for free and hasn't had to pay anything for classes or housing.
Cantrell said several faculty members have gone out of their way to help students get caught up because of missed classes.
Irvin said he has had a lot of reading and studying to do, but he is catching up in his classes.
"The faculty told me they are willing to help me in any way possible," he said. "If I need any help, they told me to come to their office and talk to them."
Irvin said his family left New Orleans with the intention of going to Dallas, but Interstate 10 West out of town was closed because of traffic.
"We had to head north," he said. "Chattanooga was the first city that had an available hotel room."
Irvin said the church helped his parents find jobs.
"We are moving on with our lives and are grateful because we could be in a much worse situation than we are now," he said.
UT-Knoxville has enrolled 95 displaced students, and UT-Martin has enrolled two, records show. Fifty-three displaced students have enrolled in community colleges.
