Rebuilding schools in New Orleans: A winter's break

An alternative Union College winter break program, "Katrina Relief: Rebuilding Schools in New Orleans," is set for Nov. 29-Dec. 6, giving participants the chance to rebuild schools in a district where families have moved back but buildings remain uninhabitable because of hurricane damage.

With funding from a generous Union graduate who wishes to remain anonymous, 22 College students and two professional staff will take part in restoring Franklin High School and Lusher Elementary and Middle High schools in the district where Laura Eyman '08 of Zachary, La., attended school. The district hopes to re-open the schools by Jan. 17.

Union's volunteers will paint, move furniture, set up the library and help with clerical tasks. Eyman's father, Carl Eyman, and a neighbor have offered the use of their New Orleans homes, which were not damaged. Currently, neither family is living there because of the school closings.

"This is a fantastic way for us to reach out and make a real difference," said Todd Clark, director of residential life.  "To have our work affect the local community of a current Union student is very special, and having a Union alumnus believe so much in the power of something like this that he or she would donate the necessary funds to make it happen says a lot about the spirit of the Union College community."