Alumni, Students Gather in New Orleans

In an effort to extend a student-alumni connection beyond the Manhattan College community, 12 students and Margaret Groarke, assistant professor of government, joined Helping Hands in New Orleans during the week of January 11-17.

Bob McMann ’79, an engineer with LLOG Exploration Company, met with the work crew in the 7th Ward to discuss the warning signs his company had noticed in the days before Hurricane Katrina. As drilling superintendant, he knew the impending storm was an unusual occurrence. It didn’t take long for him and his family to leave the Lake View area as the storm strengthened, but they didn’t anticipate an eight-week stay with friends in Texas.
 
The damaged area was far greater than the students imagined. As the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaches, many remnants of the devastation are still in the area. Although most of the debris has been cleared and the levees repaired, the structures that remain bear the signs of a brutal fight with nature.

“Water has incredible strength,” said one local man.  “When I got home, my refrigerator had floated to the front door and the washer and dryer blocked the back one. My son had to break a window to get in.”
 
Stephen Scalia `51, a charter member of the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, accompanied the students for a visit to the museum, where they viewed the remarkable collection of artifacts and oral histories. Scalia was impressed by the students’ earnest inquisition at a dinner the night before and saw great promise in the College’s future alumni.
 
Replacing some property is manageable; replacing cherished belongings is not. Many locals feel dislodged and unsettled.  But the city still smiles and dances to its unique tune with charm and good nature.
 
For more information on how to create a student alumni connection in your city, please e-mail mary.malone@manhattan.edu or ellen.kiernan@manhattan.edu.

 

Pictured above in the WWII Museum are: Kate Smith, James Wellington, Elissa DiSalvo, Alex Mohr, Brittany Bostock, Chris Shemanski, Christopher Mias, Sean McCarthy, Shan Fei, Prof. Margaret Groarke, Stephen Scalia '51, Nikki Fjotland, Alex Halen, Jon Flood.