Local HBCU panel discusses ‘Leadership under fire 10 years after Katrina’

15th June 2015   ·   0 Comments

By Charmaine Jackson
Contributing Writer

The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina catapulted leaders from three of New Orleans’ historically Black universities and colleges – Southern University at New Orleans, Dillard University, and Xavier University New Orleans – into recovery mode.

Victor Ukpolo, Chancellor of Southern University at New Orleans, spoke about starting over after Hurricane Katrina, during the 13th Annual Summit of the National HBCU Business Deans Roundtable panel titled, “Leader­ship Under Fire-New Orleans 10 Years After Katrina 2005.” Edgar Chase III, of Dillard University and Joe Ricks of Xavier University New Orleans were present to share how their respective campuses journeyed after the storm, which changed from tragic to triumphant.

“We had to fight to keep SUNO open and running,” Ukpolo stated.

Of the HBCU’s, SUNO suffered the most damages, which totaled approximately $500 million. The floodwaters ruined the entire campus. Ukpolo recalled FEMA reached out within 24 hours to render aid. They supplied a makeshift campus, by providing 400 trailer homes for housing faculty, staff, as well as classes for students, in addition to $100 million. Ukpolo tended to many issues, including those unrelated to university business, such as dealing with homelessness. “I became the ‘Mayor of the campus,’” Ukpolo said.

“When we first came back to campus, students, faculty and staff were living side-by-side in trailer homes. As a result, I had to address all the life issues that occur outside of the 9-to-5 academic day. We had to make sure they had electricity, running water – anything to make their living conditions as comfortable as possible. We had to help them with quality-of-life issues.”

Ukpolo contacted a friend at California State University in Northridge, CA, to find out how they recovered from their natural disaster — a massive earthquake. He was advised to reserve a hotel to house everyone, and he followed through and reached the Marriott in downtown New Orleans. FEMA agreed to pay and provide 400 rooms.

Just minutes away, Dillard University was also in the midst of rebuilding. The campus sustained $400 million in damages.

“The campus lost three student housing facilities to fire and every building had water except the chapel,” Chase said. “We were unprepared for the unthinkable,” he continued.

With Marvalene Hughes as president, Chase said she pursued money, which was most important to bring the university back. “She understood politics very well,” Chase said. “She understood that if you want money, you have to go to the source, the U.S. government,” he continued. With the help of former Senator Mary Landrieu, Hughes secured a $160 million, low- interest loan for Dillard University and its plan to rebuild.

“Xavier University New Orleans was the first to reopen its doors,” Ricks mentioned, out of the universities in the area, after Hurricane Katrina. The campus did not experience extensive damages like the others, but water invaded the campus, leaving behind two to six feet. After the water receded, the recovery began with infrastructure repair projects, which totaled $45 million.

“Xavier became the light of the community,” said Ricks, both literally and symbolically. Because the university was the first in the area to return, it was the only light in the neighborhood. It was also a sign of new beginnings for the community.

Making advancements and improvements was a part of that recovery.

According to Ricks, recovery for Norman C. Francis meant he wanted to not only come back and rebuild, but to come back better. Since most of the construction equipment was still on-campus from the student union that was completed a few months before Katrina, new construction began right away. It was the start of $250 million of capital projects that included a 4,800-seat Con-vocation Center, which brought graduation back to the campus.

“Leadership made a decision, the team executed that decision, post-Katrina, we’re better,” Ricks said.

Since the storm, all three universities have implemented updated emergency preparedness and evacuation plans, and now have online classes.

About 150 Xavier students were left behind because they had no way home. Ricks shared that now, “students are required to read and sign the new plan because part of it states families are responsible for making sure they get out of harm’s way during weather-related disasters.”

Ukpolo said there are at least 7,000 trained faculty members to conduct online classes. They are also training a coordinator for emergency planning. “The university is ready for the unseen to address challenges,” Ukpolo stated.

“Xavier has expanded classes to Blackboard; an emergency contact list and an alternative contact list; developed a back-up Web site and toll free number that students, faculty, and staff can connect to in times of disaster,” said Ricks.

SUNO and Xavier confirmed adding a text messaging system for students, faculty and staff members to advise of closings, flooding, or other weather emergencies.

This article originally published in the June 15, 2015 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.