By VALERIE METREJEAN

vmm008@latech.edu

 

and

SARAH BROACH

slb045@latech.edu

 

 

Caruthers Residence Hall, which is home to several hundred New Orleans evacuees and Tulane football players, is now home to a few more.

With the threat of Hurricane Rita, Caruthers faced new challenges as neighbors from southwest Louisiana searched for a place to stay.

“The number [of residents] in Caruthers changes by the hour,” Dr. Jim King, vice president of student affairs, said. “We have picked up about 75 people because of [Hurricane] Rita.”

He also said they are expecting more people from Lake Charles and other areas.

With so many people making Caruthers a temporary home, King said various programs have been set up to go beyond meeting general necessities. These include: counseling, church services and tutoring programs for students.

“It has become a real resource center,” King said.

Dickie Crawford, dean of student affairs, said residents have not only utilized the services but they have also given back any way they could.

“Evacuees want to participate and help by serving food and cleaning,” Crawford said. “They have been wonderful.”

Crawford said the response from the residents has been overwhelming with people helping operate the facilities themselves while trying to figure out where to go from here.

“With New Orleans flooding again many are having to reassess their plans [to go home],” Crawford said.

Cardal Haywood, 15, of New Orleans, said he loves it at Caruthers.

“I love somebody feeding me all the time,” Haywood said. “I don’t have to cook or anything.”

Haywood said the treatment at Caruthers has been “fantastic,” and his family plans to stay there until they are allowed to go back to New Orleans.

“We are just going to see about our house, if it can be rebuilt or not,” Haywood said. “We’ll go to Atlanta if it can’t be rebuilt. My mom has a friend there.”

Haywood was unsure of when his family would be able to leave.

Lori DeMolle, of Port Sulphur in Plaquemines Parish, said she has no complaints about her stay in Caruthers.

“Being here has been a blessing,” DeMolle said. “Everyone’s gone out of their way to make us comfortable.”

DeMolle said Hurricane Katrina destroyed everything she had.

“We have nothing to go home to,” she said. “We may make a new home here. It’s different here, but it’s nice.”

DeMolle said her son is planning to go to school at Tech.

Crawford said grateful evacuees have been more than willing to help with the upkeep of the shelter.

The length of time Caruthers will stay open is yet to be determined. “We will serve as long as there is a need,” King said.

With all the efforts being made to ensure a comfortable stay, he said he is pleased with the results.

“It has become a community there,” King said.

Eldrid Hardison, the on-site director, said volunteers have been greatly appreciated and are still needed. Students are welcome any time on weekends to play with children, and groups available for student tutoring can call 257-3807 and reserve a time.