So when officials made plans last week to close operations and evacuate, Dr. Victor Ukpolo, SUNO chancellor, emphasized the storage of vital documents such as those for human resources and the registrar in a second-floor office, which should hopefully avoid the problems of 2005, Francis says.
Faculty and many staff and students evacuated to homes of relatives and friends after classes ended last Friday, but some students were bussed to other schools if they had no affordable options. For instance, about 130 SUNO athletes and international students are staying at Southern University at Baton Rouge, about 75 miles northwest of the coast, Francis says. And about 100 Dillard students and staff traveled 280 miles to Centenary College in Shreveport in the northwest part of the state.
One of Hughes’ many concerns is the amount of debris Gustav may have dumped onto campus. Some news reports have estimated that as much as 10 million cubic yards of debris has blanketed the coast. “We might have to double the crew when we start cleaning,” she says. “My hope is that by the time students return, they won’t have to see any mess.”
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