The Santa Clara University School of Law community is profoundly saddened by the personal devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. Our prayers go out to the persons affected by this natural catastrophe and to the friends and family of those in New Orleans. The School of Law will help the people affected by the disaster in several ways.
First, the School of Law will assist law students from two New Orleans law schools devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Second and third year students at Tulane University School of Law and Loyola University (NO) School of Law will be permitted to enroll at Santa Clara as visiting students for the Fall 2005 Semester. These students will be permitted to enroll at Santa Clara without payment of additional tuition and fees, but they must begin classes by Wednesday, September 7, 2005. The School of Law will provide assistance to these students from New Orleans law schools to help in the transition, including financial aid advising and support, selection of courses and making up missed classes and course assignments, as well as assistance in locating housing, and support for other needs. For information about this assistance to Tulane and Loyola law students, please contact Nanette Cannon, Acting Dean of Law Admissions at 408-554-5048.
Second, the School of Law is collecting donations to assist the people and communities devastated by the hurricane. Faculty, staff, students and friends are being asked to support a charitable or relief organization in the area damaged by the hurricane by making donations—in cash or by check to "Santa Clara University School of Law" (and designating "Katrina Disaster Relief" in the memo section of the check). An appropriate organization or agency will be selected within a week to receive the funds raised by the School of Law. The Student Bar Association is collecting gifts from students and several law school staff members are accepting checks and cash from donors. The School of Law has agreed to contribute, from privately raised funds, $2.00 for every $1.00 raised in this campaign. If you wish to contribute to this fundraising campaign for victims of the disaster, please leave your donation (check or cash) with Christina Johnson (Bergin 214), Priya Vaidyanath (Heafey 151) or Joanie Schuller (Loyola 141). Any size gift is welcome and all are appreciated.
Santa Clara University School of Law is very proud of the response of the faculty, students and staff at the law school. We have received several offers of free housing for Tulane and Loyola law students from law school faculty and staff, and the level of interest in making a gift to the fundraising campaign is already very high. One of the many things that makes Santa Clara a very special place is the caring, sensitive people who study and work here and their personal and professional interests in helping others. These are the best qualities of the legal profession and a Jesuit educational institution.
All of us at the School of Law will continue to monitor developments in the Delta area and to seek additional ways we can assist the universities and law schools in New Orleans as they work through the pain and expense of recovering from this disaster.
Donald J. Polden, Dean
