UNM takes in 10 affected by storm

by Katy Knapp

Daily Lobo

Avram Penner had been at Tulane University in New Orleans for only an hour before he had to evacuate.

"My friend just told me it wasn't worth staying," he said.

Penner is one of 10 students enrolling at UNM after hurricane Katrina forced the closing of several universities on the Gulf Coast on Monday. A reported 1 million people have been left homeless and unemployed in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Terry Babbitt, director of Recruitment Services at UNM, said he expects about 10 more students from the Gulf Coast to enroll at the University. He has extended the deadline to add classes from this Friday to next Friday, Sept. 9.

"These kids are just getting back to New Mexico and realizing there won't be a semester at their school," he said.

Penner, a freshman from Albuquerque, was due to start his first day of classes at Tulane on Monday. At 4 p.m. Thursday, he hurriedly tried to register for classes at UNM.

"It's quite ridiculous," he said. "There's a lot of work to get done to register. I've been here since 11 this morning, and I am just now getting done."

However, advisors and University staff have been very helpful, Penner said.

Babbitt said the students' application process has been expedited and advisors have been working with them closely to get them enrolled in the classes they need. He said most students don't have transcripts from their school, so it can be difficult for advisors to know what courses students need.

"We're trying to pull it all together," he said. "We're having to enroll without paperwork. The advisors are having to take their word for it because of the situation."

UNM President Louis Caldera sent a memo to all faculty and staff Wednesday asking them to help make the students' transition a little easier.

"There is no need for college students to drop out or fall behind in their coursework this semester," he said in a news release.

Breda Bova, senior advisor to Caldera, said the response from faculty has been positive. Most of the faculty who responded have offered to help arrange schedules for the students, she said.

"They've really stepped up to the plate," Bova said.

Penner said he was going to Tulane on scholarships and financial aid. He said if UNM can't transfer his financial aid, he won't be able to attend classes.

Babbitt said right now the University isn't concerned about how the students will pay for tuition, but will work on getting them financial aid.

"We're just getting started without their credentials," he said. "Eventually we will restore some scholarships and financial aid."

Babbitt said he has even gotten some responses from different departments that want to set up scholarships for the incoming students.

Babbitt said UNM and Gov. Bill Richardson's office are working together to provide financial aid for students who have lost residency since they moved away or students who aren't from New Mexico.

Tulane University has had minimal damage from Katrina, but will be closed for the rest of the semester.

Penner, who plans on majoring in something having to do with humanities, said he plans to go back to Tulane when it reopens.

A friend of his managed to evacuate the storm, Penner said, but he doesn't know if any of his other friends were stuck in the storm.

"God, I hope not," he said.