Saving Her Academic Life

The former PSU student becomes a PSU student again.

After her summer vacation, junior Jane Olson was preparing for the new semester of college in late August, 2005. However, she wasn't sure there was even a school to attend. Wondering what could be happening and watching the news at her grandmother's house in Alabama, she contacted her school, Loyola University, in New Orleans.

August 29 is marked as one of the worst days in the history of the United States. Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and swallowed the entire city, killing 976 in Louisiana and 221 in Mississippi, a number expected to rise.

Not only did it destroy the city, it also took away the valuable educational opportunities from 372,000 students, according to the U.S. Department of Education, in Louisiana and Mississippi. The American Council on Education estimates 75 thousand to 100 thousand college students have been affected by the hurricane.

And Olson was one of them. Three days later, she was informed that Loyola University would be closed for the entire fall semester.

Jane Olson, of Loyola University, now attends Plattsburgh State

“I didn't want to get behind,” she says. “I chose to go to another school.”

Originally from Milton, Vermont, Olson aimed to find colleges that could accept her so late. She tried to find a college that was close home. A few schools, such as Johnson State College and Plattsburgh State University, came to mind. After much consideration, she decided to apply to Plattsburgh State, where she had spent her freshman year.

Her next problem that she couldn't get a transcript from Loyola University because “no one was working at offices, no one was there." But Plattsburgh State welcomed Olson, though she was a week behind and lacked some official transcripts. They believed her.

“If there were more students, we would have been glad to help them."

“If there were more students, we would have been glad to help them,” says Keith Tyo, executive assistant to the President at Plattsburgh State. According to Tyo, they were scheduled to have more students from either Xavier University or the University of New Orleans. But one student, who is originally from Japan, went back to his country; another student, originally from one of the Caribbean islands, simply didn't show up to the college.

He also says they were able to process these students because it was only a week into the classes. “If you get much further, it might be difficult for the students to try to catch up to get back on track,” he says. “If you go two or three weeks into the semester, it's almost impossible.”

But, Jane Olson has become a PSU student again. Now majoring in broadcast journalism, she is very busy on campus, getting significant amounts of help from both from students and professors.

“There are traditions of helping on this campus."

“There are traditions of helping on this campus," says Michael Cashman, president of PSU's Student Association. For example, he explains that the PSU campus was a "major responder" during an ice storm back in the early 90s, as well as the terrorist attacks on September 11. “We have a continued tradition of reaching out to those in need,” he says.

In September, Reverend Kevin Wildes, President of Loyola University, announced the university would reopen in January 2006. But Olson says she will be staying at PSU at least for a year. “I'm still making my decision,” she says.

For the remainder of her college career, she just doesn't know where she is going. But for now, she is sure Plattsburgh State saved her academic life.

Can you help out any victims of Hurricane Katrina?

Plattsburgh State University gave Jane Olson a hand. Now see how you can help victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The American Red Cross

Habitat For Humanity

Bush/Clinton Katrina Fund

Providing Temporary Shelter

UNICEF

Adopt A Displaced Pet