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Mason Responds to Hurricane Katrina

Alumnus travels south to help rebuild

When Christopher Hall, BS Information Technology ’05, saw Katrina’s devastation, he knew he had to do something. Hall, a resource analyst for Avectra, aided in the relief efforts for nearly two weeks in September.

On September 1, Hall wrote in his web log: “I leave at noon to go down to New Orleans to help out with hurricane relief. This is all pretty much a spur of the moment decision on my part; I have a chance to help out, so that’s what I’m going to do. I’ll be aiding the National Guard in building shelters and doing search and rescue.”

Before heading off to help, Hall contacted friends at Mason to say goodbye. “We couldn’t send him down there empty-handed,” says Susan Kehoe, general manager of GMU-TV. Staff at GMU-TV and the Division of Instructional and Technology Support Services gathered supplies in just three hours. Phone calls to Alumni Affairs, the Program Board, and the School of Information Technology and Engineering resulted in two cartloads of supplies.

After more than a week of working in Louisiana, Hall reported back on his web log to Mason staff: “We ended up going to a shelter in Mississippi late in the week, and I was able to drop off all the supplies we took with us that you guys rounded up, the people working there were very appreciative. That was really awesome of you all to put that together like that, especially on such short notice. There’s a bunch of new Patriots down south now because of it.”

From Family to Family

Rose Tajvidi, BS Marketing ’85 and Alumni Association board member, had donated money to the Red Cross, but after Hurricane Katrina she wanted to do something more. Through a friend from New Orleans, Tajvidi was given the name of a family in dire need of help.

“They’d lost everything,” Tajvidi says. The storm and subsequent flooding had completely submerged their house.

The family of four—a husband, his wife, their 20-month old baby, and the husband’s mother—struck a particular chord with Tajvidi because she has a baby almost the same age. The family was fortunate to evacuate the area together; however, they were only able to bring three bags of clothing with them. They were staying with family, but they had no car and no way to look for housing.

“It was kind of a surreal conversation,” Tajvidi says. “I called them and it was like, ‘Hi, you don’t know me at all, but I want to help you.’”

Tajvidi sent immediate needs—baby clothes, diapers, wipes. She is also helping the family rent a trailer for temporary housing, and she has set up a rental car for them.

“I’ve never done anything like this before, and it really hits home when you hear firsthand experiences,” says Tajvidi. “I’m happy I am in a position to be able to help.”

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Many other alumni have assisted with Katrina relief, including Dave Pierpont, BA Government and Politics ’95, who helped organize the collection and delivery of nonperishable items to the Baton Rouge and Little Rock Food Banks using rented trucks; Kim Danoff, DVM, BA Biology ’95, who drove a caravan down to Mississippi to rescue animals; and Dave McKernan, BIS ’02, a deputy chief firefighter who was sent to help with rescues and recovery.

 

The Mason Community Reaches Out to Katrina Victims

After Hurricane Katrina roared through the Gulf Coast, causing extensive damage to Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, people from around the world responded with support. At Mason, the response was quick and generous. Innumerable organizations and individuals came together with fund-raising efforts, donations, and other ways to help those stranded and sick. From hosting a concert to collecting stuffed animals, the response was creative and widespread. Listed below are only a few examples of the Mason volunteerism that brings out pride in every Patriot:

• Fund raising with a beat—Playing New Orleans-style jazz, the Jazz Ensemble formed a parade around campus, encouraging people to dance, sing, and donate money.
• Showing sparkle—For a flash of money, the Staff Senate rewarded Patriots with colorful Mardi Gras beads. The proceeds were donated to the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign–Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund.
• Opening doors—Students of colleges and universities that were shut down because of Katrina didn’t have to interrupt their studies. Mason allowed them to enroll for the fall semester with minimal paperwork and no fee. The students also received financial aid, counseling and advising, housing, and other services.
• A ball of fur, a bit of love—Professors in the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution collected boxes and boxes of stuffed toys for children and elderly citizens who were displaced from their homes.
• Center stage—The Center for the Arts donated 50 percent of the proceeds of a performance of Three Hotels to the Red Cross.

 

Mason Electrician Lends Hand in Mississippi

Matthew Pepper, master electrician for the Center for the Arts, was deployed by the Red Cross for disaster relief services. He supervised a team of emergency response vehicle (ERV) drivers in the Hattiesburg, Mississippi, area. His skills as an electrician and a ham radio operator came in useful for repairing vehicles and getting needed communication out to rescue workers. Pepper also distributed more than 500 meals a day to local people in need, navigating ruined streets and desolated areas. In photo at right, Pepper is pictured with Darryl Ponder of Minnetonka, Minnesota, planning a route to get supplies out to those in need.