CWU Begins Coordination Of Hurricane Relief Efforts

September 6, 2005

Contact: Dr. Paul Baker (509-963-1491/fax 509-963-2301/e-mail: bakerp@cwu.edu)

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - Last Friday, Central Washington University established the "Katrina Relief Fund" to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina.

During a meeting today (September 6) on the Ellensburg campus, facilitated by Robert Campbell, CWU Disability Support Services program director, 34 representatives from the CWU administration, various departments, students and faculty members met to develop a coordinated approach for university relief efforts.

"Among our initiatives are to assist our alumni and the families of our students in the affected region, along with donating to the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund for more generalized assistance to those in need," Dr. Paul Baker, CWU vice president for university relation says. "A variety of other campus relief efforts are also now being developed."

CWU Alumni Association statistics indicate there are at least 139 CWU alumni living in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi.

For more information about the CWU hurricane relief fund or how to contribute, contact the CWU Foundation at (509) 963-2760.

CWU students and the university's Alumni Association are now planning additional fundraising efforts for hurricane recovery assistance.

In addition, an emergency admissions process is now in place for students - particularly Washington natives from colleges and universities in the hurricane-affected states - interested in enrolling at CWU or any of its six university centers.

Prior to the hurricane, CWU had closed admission for fall quarter classes. The emergency admissions process pertains only to students from colleges and universities impacted by Hurricane Katrina, who will still have to meet university admissions standards.

Central is one of many universities around the country now being contacted by students from affected colleges seeking to apply.