<p>ricz, nobody needs to hear that kind of junk right now--or ever, for that matter. It's exaggerated and completely without basis in fact--contrary to already-known and posted fact, in fact--and is in the vein of posts that are really making me angry. A lot of us have lost very little compared to the people of New Orleans, but we have still lost something of real value to our children and ourselves. The last thing we need is idle negativity. </p>
<p>Tulane is the largest employer in the city of New Orleans. If that alone doesn't mean anything to you, then you are ignorant of the facts of life. If the many, many enthusiastically supportive posts here and elsehwere mean nothing to you, then you are ignorant of human nature and what makes up a human institution. Why trouble yourself to post such negativity in this place?</p>
<p>Sorry, jmmom, I guess you put it a lot more nicely.</p>
<p>The people of Atlanta rebuilt after it burned during the Civil War. Where would the southern US be without that great city? The earth was salted on Sherman's march to the sea. Where would this country be without the agricultural products from that area? Galveston rebuilt after the hurrican in 1903. The World Trade Center is being rebuilt. Oklahoma City has recovered from the aftermath of the bombing. Chicago rebuilt after it burned and San Francisco rebuilt after the earthquake. </p>
<p>I for the life of me can't understand why people are so negative about the future of a city that is a major provider of refined fuel and has one of the biggest - if not the biggest shipping ports in the country. The last thing the people of the City of New Orleans and the students and faculty of Tulane and the other 20 schools hit by the hurricane need is negative and uninformed comments such as some of the ones I have read on this post. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but honestly, there is a time and a place.</p>
<p>ricz, It's a bit early to throw in the towel. January is a realistic start date IF the federal government provides the funding required to secure and jump-start the city. Out-of-state parents should write their congressmen a nd women to make sure that the city gets the aid it needs--especially parents from politically powerful states.</p>
<p>Tulane has suffered many many floods of that degree. The clean-up will not be a surprise if they were able to maintain security through these last dark nights (and that is a big if....).</p>
<p>No question but Tulane will be in a financial hole. Hopefully, Cowen is as gifted a leader as CC parents say. Compared to many of the city's institutions, Tulane seems to be sitting pretty.</p>
<p>Can Tulane come up with a class for 2010? Of course they can! There were approxiamtely 4 million Americans born that year. There will be students thrilled to go to Tulane in 2006. They might not be quite the caliber of student as in the last few years, but they will be great students all the same. Tulane will not care if they get a few "C" students for a few years.</p>
<p>I am going to come to RICZ's defense. I think there are serious questions about the future viability of many New Orleans institutions, including all of the colleges and universities.</p>
<p>As for long term, I suspect that Tulane's endowment will ensure long-term viability following a period of retrenchment. Given that college is a four-year experience, I would have to give serious consideration to sending my offspring elsewhere. I don't believe that the next four years in downtown New Orleans are going to be pretty.</p>
<p>If I were a betting man, I would guess that other colleges in the city may not be as fortunate. I would not be surprised if Xavier is forced to close its doors.</p>
<p>Actually, Xavier and Loyola are part of larger organizations. None of the institutions are in danger of disappearing. So says me.</p>
<p>By financial hole, afr, I refer to the hole that any business would get into if they had thousands of employees to maintain, massive utility bills to pay, clean-up and reconstruction to attend to, marketing to deploy, legal battles to fight with insurance companies and scholarship students--all on half the income they expected for the year.</p>
<p>A sudden, drastic reduction in annual income is a financial hole for any business.</p>
<p>The problem is no one has any facts. I merely gave my opinion on what I see as the near term future for Tulane. I'm sorry if I offended anyone, but until anyone has hard facts and that includes Tulane administration, everything is speculation. Parents have a sundry of questions when it comes to sending a child to school. The unfortunate circumstances that exist today will create more questions and uncertainty for parents of future Tulane applicants. How willing will parents of current students be to pay another $15,000 for the spring semester with this uncertainty? Put yourself in the shoes of a Tulane parent or a parent of a prospective Tulane student. I know first hand and that's why I share these comments with you.</p>
<p>Quote:
"Tulane still has its tuition money- the flood of colleges and universities which have offered visting status to Tulane students have ensure that Tulane will keep its tuition money by requiring that visiting students have either already paid Tulane, or the visiting school will collect tuition and escrow it for Tulane" </p>
<p>I originally assumed that schools offering Tulane students spots would expect to get that first semester's tuition from Tulane... And likewise, that the room/board money paid to Tulane also be given to the new school. But it seems as if these new schools are really donating a full semester's tuition to these victims of this disaster. So, I wonder if it's known how Tulane will use this first semester tuition/room and board? For rebuilding, or held for the students for the next semester?</p>
<p>Having been through Hugo, admittedly nothing compared to Katrina, and after having been without the normalcy of electricity, clean tap water or my family for weeks, I have to say that my stress relief came from being in classes and at work. It added structure and normalcy to my days, and really helped me to keep my sanity. IMHO starting classes, wherever, is a first step toward getting back to your life and putting things in order one step at a time. Of course, it depends on your student, and you know your student best, but it is so easy to fall into dwelling on something which you cannot control if you do not have some other purpose. </p>
<p>As to returning to Tulane, it will be traumatic in itself, as it will be very different. We don't realize, sometimes, how much we rely on the appearance of our treasured places to make us feel secure. The amount of light which we had in Charleston due to the massive loss of trees was disturbing, the routes around town were varied, the infrastructure was improvised for quite a while. So, as happy as all will be to return, it is also another source for depression when places are no longer as we remembered. </p>
<p>I am really not trying to be negative, just giving another perspective. I would love to take a family in, to help, to show that America is out here, concerned and wanting to help. All I can do is send cash, since Alaska is a bit out of the way, but I am sending my best wishes, too.</p>
<p>I applaud Tulane for giving it's blessing to the student's to pursue a fall semester at a "foster school" while there is still time to make arrangements. These kids can now take classes free from any moral or ethical question of whether or not they are being disloyal to Tulane. Hopefully, these kids can settle in at the foster schools, take some classes, meet new people and just enjoy being college kids for a few months. Maybe they could think of it as a study abroad without needing a passport.:) </p>
<p>Now is not the time to make any major decisions. Emotions are still too raw and the recovery plan has not yet been formed. We can speculate all we want, but nobody knows what the future is. The families affected have enough on their plates right now, let's not add to it. When Tulane announces a reopen date, then each family can evaluate their student's needs and make a decision. One decision will not fit all and I think we need to be respectful of each other's opinions. There will be no right or wrong.</p>
<p>Good luck to the students of the Gulf Coast. I hope you all have a wonderful semester at your foster school.</p>
<p>Thanks for your wise words, my-3. You're right that there is much more to this than simply a quick move for a semester. Emotions are running high and, no matter where they end up, the students are and will be affected by the realization that their possessions, their semester, and their year of planning and anticipation are all gone. All we can each do is take it a step at a time, trying to do the right thing for our children while remaining supportive of the university that spent months preparing for them.</p>
<p>I agree, my's words are wise and should be heeded. Right now our concerns should be focused and "re-homing" our kids, and doing what we can to help others.</p>
<p>The way I understand it and nothing has been really clarified - the offer by the other institutions is a donation and Tulane keeps the tuition money. The schools I have looked into all require additional sums for housing expenses, so one would assume that eventually Tulane would reimburse those expenses.</p>
<p>I had a little chuckle this morning. My D is a junior and has not even made a list yet. I was saying to her, "Well, you need to be making a list this year, you're a junior. Don't you have any idea at all of what schools you might be interested, even just one or two?" </p>
<p>So then she says to me, "Well, I was interested in Tulane. They sent me an e-mail about the hurricane and how they got everyone out safely due to good planning. . ." </p>
<p>Looks like Tulane marketing is alive and well. I have a feeling Tulane is going to be okay . . . I believe they will take good care of their current students--they have a reputation to uphold, and I believe they will do right by their students. They have a lot at stake.</p>
<p>A question in reference to the comments about Tulane's finances: are they receiving insurance money? I'm sure that some or all of the damages, both tangible (buildings destroyed) and less tangible (salaries and such) will be covered by insurance.</p>
<p>Yes, they are insured. In one of Pres. Cowen's messages he listed as a priority working with FEMA and their insurance carriers to begin reparing the campus..</p>