September 22, 2005

President's statement on hurricane response

To members of the Northwestern community:

I’m sure that all of you have been deeply affected, as I have, by the tragedy that has occurred in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Our hearts go out to those whose lives have been devastated by this terrible storm and the flooding that occurred in its wake.

Through the Association of American Universities, we have been in contact with the president of Tulane University, located in New Orleans. Like Northwestern, Tulane is a member of the AAU, a consortium of the country’s leading universities. I am sorry to report that Tulane announced that it would not be able to reopen its campus this fall. While Tulane’s campus was not flooded, the extensive damage to the City of New Orleans infrastructure will prevent Tulane from reopening for some time.

Therefore, Northwestern will assist students from Tulane and other colleges and universities in that area to the greatest extent possible. We will offer students enrolled at institutions in hurricane-stricken areas the opportunity to take classes at Northwestern this fall as visiting students.

Northwestern will waive tuition for those students, allowing tuition revenues to continue to go to those students’ home institutions. If students have already paid their fall semester tuition to their home institution, Northwestern will provide available space in classes at no additional cost. If the visiting students have not yet paid tuition at their home institution, Northwestern will charge the home institution’s tuition and transfer those funds to it.

I also urge you to join me in making a contribution to the American Red Cross or the organization of your choice for hurricane disaster relief. The Red Cross phone number is 1-800-HELP-NOW. The McCormick Tribune Foundation and many faith-based organizations also have established disaster relief funds. The phone number for the McCormick Tribune Foundation is 1-800-508-2848.

The effects of this disaster touch us all. I know that many members of the Northwestern community have families in the area hit by the hurricane. Our thoughts are with them as they begin the long, difficult efforts to recover their lives. We can help by offering an outstanding education to those students who now find themselves without an educational home.  Therefore, I ask that all of you here at Northwestern be flexible, creative and compassionate in assisting those students as much as we possibly can.

Thank you for your assistance on this important effort.

Henry S. Bienen, President

September 6, 2005