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Family travels country to visit displaced students |
| By
Deanna Woolf |
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Nov 22, 2005 |
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| The Gallien family: Laura, holding JeanLuc, and George, holding Gabriel |
The Galliens' schedule reads like a concert tour — from New York to Oklahoma, Wisconsin to Arkansas; 26 universities in 34 days.
But this grueling itinerary is a chance for the Galliens to check up on "Loyola in exile," as Laura puts it, the students from Loyola University New Orleans who are scattered across the country while the school remains closed fall semester.
Laura is director of liturgy and music with Loyola's University Ministry and her husband, George, is director of ecumenical and interfaith ministry and black student ministry. Joining them on this journey are sons Gabriel, 2, and JeanLuc, 1.
After evacuating to her parents' house in Charlotte, N.C., to escape Hurricane Katrina, Laura and her family watched television reports and eagerly awaited news of Loyola's fate. "We were really lucky; the water stopped a block or two away," she said of the university and its residence hall where her family lives. "There was just the regular damage we get with a tropical storm."
Even though Loyola emerged relatively unscathed, school officials decided to remain closed for the fall semester. So Laura and George decided to travel around the country. "Our job is student-centered," she said. "They were asking staff and faculty to check in on students in their areas. There weren't a lot of students in Charlotte, so we decided to travel around and visit students at their schools."
Laura and George planned their route, contacting schools Loyola students were attending. "Most places have set up an informal meeting room for us to hang out, a luncheon or other activities," she said. "We've been videotaping the students to capture this 'Loyola in exile,' a moment in our history," she explained. Many of the students ask questions about classes or if certain faculty members are returning. Laura said she and George also help reassure them "all their favorite bars and hangouts are fine."
During their visit to UT on Oct. 26, they met with displaced student Sam Dungar and attended a luncheon and a UT Campus Ministry event. "You really get a sense of the Midwest hospitality everyone talks about," she said of their warm welcome on campus.
The Gallien family will finish their journey Nov. 19 and will head back to Charlotte for Thanksgiving. On Monday, Nov. 28, they will report for work at Loyola, along with other staff and faculty members.
Although there are many uncertainties — housing for university employees and possible budgetary cutbacks — Laura said Loyola will open next semester, with students able to take a 15-week session or two intensive seven-week sessions.
Her family's travels around the country also have given her hope for New Orleans' future. "It's a humbling and awesome experience of how many students want to help rebuild," she said. "Maybe a lot of the things wrong with the city can be rebuilt. Young people have that exuberance."
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