search articles:     from the issue of September 7, 2006           UNL responds to Katrina Core Values: Engagement  UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS Efforts reach out to Gulf Coast residents     ON THE GROUND - The University of Nebraska-Lincoln responded to Hurricane Katrina in a number of ways. Campus representatives who helped out in the Gulf Coast include (clockwise from top, left) faculty members Mark Hendricks and Cliff Ritz, students Jinohn Temple and Leah Daharsh, and University Health Center employee Coni Cosgrove. Photos by IANR News Service/University Communications. Devastation reverberated 836 miles inland as the University of Nebraska-Lincoln responded to Hurricane Katrina destruction in the Gulf Coast region. The campus response - from sending communications experts and student-led clean-up crews, to soliciting donations and organizing a one-year retrospective - dominated Scarlet headlines, earning 13 separate stories in 33 issues from Sept. 8, 2005 to Aug. 31, 2006. In a direct response for assistance, the UNL-based ADEC sent Mark Hendricks, a multimedia information specialist with Communications and Information Technology, and Cliff Ritz, a network specialist with Information Services, to the Gulf region on Sept. 11. Their initial goal was to establish communications for a team of 30 medical students and doctors from Virginia Tech helping treat storm victims. By mid-morning on the day after they arrived, Hendricks and Ritz established Internet access and voice-over Internet phone service for the medical team in Gulfport, Miss. As some of the first university responders on the scene, Hendricks said they also served as an unofficial advance team providing information to other universities about the types of equipment and services needed. As normal communications were restored, the UNL team provided its equipment to Alcorn State University in Mississippi, which was still without communications. The ADEC is a consortium of land-grant universities and colleges that believed its expertise in cutting-edge education and information technology could help. Hendricks and Ritz returned Sept. 16. Experience gained will help land-grant universities be better prepared in the event of future crises. Hendricks and Ritz were pleased and honored to be able to contribute. "How many times are geeks called in to help?" Hendricks said with a laugh. UNL faculty, staff and students have also had a direct impact on the region. Through a series of service learning projects, over 200 members of the campus community have helped with hurricane cleanup efforts. The first project was over the holiday break, Jan. 1-6, with 76 students and 18 faculty/staff traveling to help residents in the Waveland, Miss. area. "I'm seeing a miracle," said Lawrence Grinder on Jan. 4 while 24 UNL students hauled hurricane debris. "I didn't believe it could clean up as fast as it did, the kids are working hard and I'm amazed at how fast they've cleaned it up." Grinder was one of a dozen Waveland-area residents who after months of working alone picking up hurricane debris, downed trees, personal belongings and waste from their property, were pleased to get help from the UNL volunteers. Prior to the assistance from Nebraska, residents said little help had been seen, few volunteers had shown up and many locals were disillusioned, depressed and frustrated. "Today, the students are picking up things it's taken me and my son and friends months to do," said Grinder. "If it weren't for groups like this, this part of the country would stay devastated for many, many months. Your group is doing miracles for Waveland." The service trip was collaboration by the Association for Campus Religious Workers, Innocents Society, Student Involvement, Student Affairs and UNL faculty and staff. UNL's hurricane response is also continuing a year later. Organized by faculty, the university is hosting "After the Storm: Hurricane Katrina - A One-Year Retrospective," Aug. 28, Sept. 5-8. The retrospective is examining Hurricane Katrina with panels, lectures and discussions. With events on campus and in the community, the retrospective features national and local presenters, and Hurricane Katrina refugees. UNL faculty Patrick Jones, Seanna Oakley and Gregory Rutledge, organized the retrospective. GO TO: ISSUE OF SEPTEMBER 7 NEWS HEADLINES FOR SEPTEMBER 7 Year in Review 15 proposals for teaching, learning excellence funded Air Force ROTC sweeps national honors Awards and Honors Beef scholars program begins Big Event draws more than 1,000 campus volunteers BIT Mobile rolls across Nebraska Buffett, Gates visit campus Cassman directs energy center Chemist creates synthetic bone Circle of Nations hosted by UNL Civil Rights marcher gives keynote address in MLK observance Combined campaign raises $331,994 Committees lay foundation for general education reform Core Values: Achievement Core Values: Diversity Core Values: Engagement Core Values: Excellence Core Values: Learning Core Values: Research and Creative Activity Core Values: Stewardship Eight students chalk awards Energy research partners UNL scientists, public power Engineering opens 2006 with new lab Excellence in Brief Faculty earn top teaching, research honors Fall semester opens with LGBTQ minor Five faculty members earn Fulbright honors Four record CAREER grants Franco takes student affairs helm Ginsburg tenders two UNL lectures Hurricane Briefs Journalism issues two depth reports Learning community builds on Thompson Forum speakers Libraries expand Cather collections NaBRO lands 5-year Korean bridge project Natural Resources moves to Hardin Hall NU Directions hailed as model program Partnership aims at commercialized cholesterol fighter Program aimed at next generation of researchers Program cards a first Psych symposium examines lesbian, gay, bisexual identities Research funding tops $100 million milestone Research on campus Retention drive launched Robots participate in 18-day mission Sheldon revives tradition Theatre Arts honors Carson Three new majors offered to students Transportation Center earns grant University takes new tack in accreditation UNL aids $5M wheat effort UNL among top 50 colleges UNL, Grand Island students celebrate college opportunity UNL students approve new culture center UNL updates online image Weisz helps shape court's handling of abused and neglected children Year in Review issue can be downloaded in pdf format 732561S36091X