Tulane President Scott Cowen, working from Houston, wrote on the private university's Web site that the school of 8,000 undergraduates was canceling the fall semester but that it would accept credit from any regionally accredited university and was encouraging students to take courses they would otherwise be taking at Tulane.
Cowen also said the school would work to keep its sports teams together and continuing to represent Tulane by relying on other schools for practice and playing facilities.
``Our student-athletes are an integral part of this plan. We want our athletes to carry the torch, face, and name of Tulane University during this difficult time,'' he said.
The football team set up temporary quarters at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. It's first game will still be Sept. 17 against Mississippi State.
``It's something that we want to do for New Orleans,'' said Tulane linebacker Antonio Mason.
Marvalene Hughes, president of Dillard University, a historically Black college in New Orleans, said she was planning further discussions with staff last week but was exploring a range of options and was not yet prepared to give up on the semester.
``I don't give up that easily,'' said Hughes, who has been president for just two months and was staying with family in Alabama.
There was no immediate word from other colleges but Terry Hartle, senior vice president of the Washington-based American Council on Education, said he expected most schools in New Orleans would be closed until at least January.
— Associated Press
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