SU to be included in Tulane University’s Katrina tapestry

SU to be included in Tulane University’s Katrina tapestryJune 13, 2006Kelly Homan Rodoskikahoman@syr.edu

When Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast region of the United States in late August 2005, the area’s colleges and universities were forced to shut their doors for at least the fall semester.

Syracuse University was one of the many higher education institutions from around the country that opened its doors to students from those affected colleges and universities, offering enrollment on a temporary basis to allow students to continue their studies until their home campuses were back to normal operations.

As a way to acknowledge and commemorate the help it received from SU and 589 other institutions, Tulane University in New Orleans is creating a Katrina tapestry that depicts its students’ diaspora to assisting colleges and universities. The Syracuse University seal, along with those from the other institutions, will be incorporated into the tapestry, which, when completed, will hang in Tulane’s newly constructed Lavin-Bernick Center for University Life. An image of the tapestry will also be posted on the Tulane website.

“Because of you — Tulane students were able to continue their education without disruption,” says Cynthia Cherrey, Tulane’s vice president for student affairs, in a letter sent to the institutions that hosted students. “This tapestry will serve as a lifelong tribute of your institution’s contribution to the recovery of the Gulf Coast region and especially in helping our Tulane students.”

The majority of the students that SU hosted came from Tulane. Ninety-two — 85 undergraduates, four graduate students and three law students — accepted SU’s offer of assistance. Additionally, 74 Tulane students studied overseas through the Syracuse University Abroad program.